Civic body drops gazebo plan

In a victory for residents that have been opposing the revamp and modernisation of Five Gardens in Dadar, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to scrap the plan of building a gazebo in one of the gardens.

In a victory for residents that have been opposing the revamp and modernisation of Five Gardens in Dadar, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to scrap the plan of building a gazebo in one of the gardens.

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In a letter to the residents’ association, the civic body announced that it would not build the proposed gazebo in the children’s park.

On March 5, residents of Dadar and Matunga and activists had met the municipal commissioner to put forth their demands, including their objection to the gazebo. Civic chief Sitaram Kunte had then ordered the superintendent of gardens to look into the issue, after which they decided abandon the plan.

Citizen activists now want their other demands, which include repair of equipment and regular maintenance of the garden, to be met: “We are glad. Our other demands should also be considered. Most of the residents are opposed to the revamp of the garden,” said Zareen Engineer, Chairperson, Mancherji E. Joshi Colony Residents’ Association.

Residents have been vehemently opposed to the redevelopment of the garden, listed as Grade II B heritage site by the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee. Activists and locals fear that the revamp will alter the look of the heritage garden and find the plan to be too ostentatious.

“We were told that a footpath was planned around the central garden which would reduce the garden’s size by 10 feet. It would be better if they focus on improving the already- existing structures inside the garden instead of undertaking new constructions” added Desai.

Instead of building the gazebo, residents had requested the commissioner to revive the defunct fountains and repair equipment in children’s garden. Around 600 residents from had signed the letter of objection.