'Locals being misguided by politicians, developers'

Many residents of Shivaji Park believe that those opposing the Shivaji Park heritage status were being misguided by politicians and developers as they do not have time to go through the guidelines and regulations on their own.

Many residents of Shivaji Park believe that those opposing the Shivaji Park heritage status were being misguided by politicians and developers as they do not have time to go through the guidelines and regulations on their own.

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"Most people have blind faith on politicians because they have not accessed the guidelines on their own," said Abhishek Tendulkar, 25, a sound engineer and resident.

"People are unaware about the implications of the heritage status and are thus, misguided by politicians and developers to oppose it."

The list, released by the civic body on July 31, has proposed heritage grade one status to the Shivaji Park playground and even included Shivaji Park precinct, which includes 195 plots.

Of the plots in the proposed precinct, 15 include shopping outlets, 16 plots have been redeveloped -mostly in the past six years - after the site was inspected for heritage listing.

"In a city that hardly has any open spaces, I feel lucky to have a spacious backyard in my house. The houses that have been designed in a quaint style are characteristic to Shivaji Park," said Anupama Rodrigues, 19, a resident, who feared that redevelopment would lead to crowding.

At present, open space around the building is 15ft, giving residents the chance to grow trees and even let their children play. "In case of buildings that have been redeveloped, the open space has been reduced to barely five feet," said d Ashok Rawat, member of Shivaji Park ALM.