Locals object to 90 stalls at playground

Locals have strongly objected to the BMC’s proposal allow 90 stalls in a playground near Mount Mary road for the upcoming Bandra fair.

Locals have strongly objected to the BMC’s proposal allow 90 stalls in a playground near Mount Mary road for the upcoming Bandra fair.

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Manik Kshirsagar, assistant municipal commissioner of H-West Ward has filed an affidavit before the high court stating the civic body has decided to allow 170 stalls on main Mount Mary road. All the stalls will be allotted through auction and half of them will be reserved for local residents, the affidavit adds.

Kshirsagar has further stated in the affidavit that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has also decided to allow 90 more stalls on Rebello Ground. While the stalls on Mount Mary road will be restricted to selling articles of religious importance, the stall-owners on Rebello Ground will be allowed to sell plastic items and toys.

The petitioners have objected to this; pointing out that the BMC had spent more than Rs70 lakh to improve the playground during the past two financial years, and that the stalls would mar the surface of the ground, the jogging track and play-equipment in it.

The matter will come up for further hearing on Tuesday before a division bench of justice PB Majumdar and justice RM Sawant.

The affidavit was in response to a petition filed by Lilian Pais and three others, residing in the vicinity of Mount Mary Church through their counsel Pooja Thorat. They complained of the menace of unauthorised hawkers in the fair, and inconvenience to locals because of jamming of all 12 roads there.