Locals protest outside ward office

To voice their protest against the alleged 'high-handedness' of a private foundation, residents of Bandra and Khar protested at the H west municipal ward office over Raosaheb Patwardhan garden issue.

Hindustan Times has been reporting how local citizens were upset after Kamla Raheja Foundation, which is maintaining the garden, hiked the entry fees from Rs 2 to Rs 5. Citizens also voiced their anger over the foundation’s decision to not let children play inside.

Consequently, additional municipal commissioner Aseem Gupta has ordered a probe into the controversy, instructing the deputy municipal commissioner (Zone-III) Sudhir Naik to submit a report soon.

One of the residents, Aftab Siddiqui, chairperson, 33rd Road ALM, said, “We have demanded that the foundation’s lease should not be renewed. It has also failed to construct the open air theatre it was supposed to build 19 years ago.”

Another local Cynthia Fernandes said, “We have also demanded that the BMC maintains the garden.”

Naik said, “I inspected the garden a couple of days back. Taking all the factors into account, I will submit my report in the next couple of days.”

GL Raheja of Kamla Raheja Foundation, said, “My manager tells me that none of our visitors are complaining. Also, we have been maintaining our gardens very well. I have no further comments to make.”