Citizens’ objections finally reach civic improvements committee

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) forwarded the objections and suggestions sent by citizens to the proposed open spaces policy to the civic improvements committee two days before its next meeting on Wednesday.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) forwarded the objections and suggestions sent by citizens to the proposed open spaces policy to the civic improvements committee two days before its next meeting on Wednesday.

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On Monday, the Hindustan Times reported that the civic body had ignored the feedback it received from around 50 citizens’ groups last year over the proposed policy.

As a result, the panel, which is to take a decision on the policy, remained in the dark about what citizens actually thought about the civic body’s plan for the city’s open spaces.

Most of the responses the BMC received opposed the giving away of 25% of public plots to private trusts under the caretaker clause.

Civic officials sent a compilation of the citizens’ feedback to the panel chairman, Dr Ram Barot, on Monday. The policy was put before the committee for a decision a month ago.

However, Barot promised that the committee would consider the citizens’ grievances before taking a final call. “I have received a copy of the report today. I will go through this and ensure that the proposed modifications are tabled in the committee. The voice of the citizens needs to be heard, said Barot.

The chairman said the report wouldn’t be circulated among other members of the panel. “I will be tabling its contents and then members can add to it when we discuss the issue,” he said.

A source said it was unlikely that a decision would be taken during Wednesday’s meeting.