BMC may end lease of Juhu plot

Two months after the municipal corporation issued a notice to a private trust in Juhu for breach of agreement of the caretaker policy, it recommended cancellation of the agreement with the trust.

Two months after the municipal corporation issued a notice to a private trust in Juhu for breach of agreement of the caretaker policy, it recommended cancellation of the agreement with the trust.

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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had taken cognisance of the matter after Juhu residents staged protests against the Ronson Foundation alleging that they were not allowed access to the open space that it had got from the BMC on lease.

The residents also complained that the foundation had cut trees on the plot without BMC's permission.

The Hindustan Times had first reported on the issue on February 26.

An internal report compiled by the ward officer and the development plan (DP) department had found various irregularities in the Ronson Foundation’s agreement with the BMC. The foundation was given a hearing and asked to submit all requisite documents.

“The trust could neither justify the cutting of trees nor submit papers to show that the civic general body had ratified the foundation’'s 1998 agreement with the BMC," said a civic official, requesting anonymity.

The file has now been sent to municipal commissioner Subodh Kumar, who will take a final decision.

The BMC had bought the four-acre recreational ground, which is adjoining the Kafi Azmi Park in the Gulmohar area, from Mhada in 1986.

In 1990, the BMC gave it to Ronson Foundation for development and maintenance. But in 1998, under the agreement, Ronson Foundation was given a recreational ground under the caretaker policy.

Moreover, the commencement certificate issued by the BMC for construction on the plot has lapsed. “The explanation was that there was some stay or the other regarding construction on that plot,” said the civic official.

Trustees of the foundation could be not reached for their comments on the proposed action.

The Juhu ground was one of the eight plots that were given by the BMC to various private trusts to built clubs and gymnasiums under the caretaker policy. The policy was stayed in 2007 after opposition from all quarters.