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DRAVID’S Tests, runs, second catches in Tests, highest for a Test hundreds, centuries abroad, next third highest by any 210non-wicketkeeper fourth highest 21 only to Sachin’s 29 FAB FEATS highest 13,288Test batsman, 36after Tendulkar by any at an average of 52.31. Better average balls faced in Tests, (51), Jacques Kallis (42) Tests as captain of India; Rahul Dravid announces his player overseas (53.03) than at home (51.35) more than any batsman and Ricky Ponting (41) 8 won, 6 lost and 11 drawn retirement on Friday 164 31,189 25 ONE INNINGS ENDS AT 39, ANOTHER SET TO BEGIN AT 38
Finally, I would like to thank the Indian cricket fan. The game is lucky to have you and I have been lucky to play before you. To represent India, and you, “has been a privilege and one which I have always taken seriously. My Mulayam firm: Akhilesh to be CM approach to cricket was simple. It was about giving everything to the team, playing with dignity, and upholding the spirit of the game. I have failed at Azam Khan and Shivpal sta- Works On keholders in this key deci- Violence up, times, but I have never stopped trying. It is why... sion, and they will be reward- Azam, Shivpal ed with plum posts. big test for One compromise formu- la doing the rounds has Az- I leave with sadness To Back Son am Khan being made the Spe- new leader Pervez Iqbal Siddiqui TNN aker, which would ensure the TIMES NEWS NETWORK senior leader does not have Lucknow: A day before the to report to Akhilesh. Howe- Lucknow: Akhilesh Yada- but also with pride Samajwadi Party parliamen- ver, that would give Azam v’s leadership was put to te- ” tary board finally decides Khan an autonomy that may st on Friday with more rep- who will be the next chief mi- not suit young Akhilesh. In orts of lawlessness, alleged- nister of Uttar Pradesh, par- the past in other states, the ly by SP workers, pouring ty chief Mulayam Singh Yad- Speaker has at times become in. Nearly half-a-dozen inci- av stood firm on his decision the rallying point for disside- dents of violence have rock- to hand over the baton to his nts. Apart from his own “ap- ed UP within days of the pa- son, 38-year-old Akhilesh, propriate” positioning, Az- rty’s victory. On March 6, am Khan is likely to pitch for journalists were attacked Shivpal no vote-puller, P 16 SP’S NEW NETAJI? Akhilesh Yadav a large number of ministries in Jhansi. On Holi day, a for- Related reports on P 12, 16 Mulayam is learnt to have Mulayam Singh, whose for his favourites. mer BSP minister’s Ambed- who is now all set to be the conveyed to his brother Shiv- health has been poor, wants The Samajwadi Party pa- karnagar rice mill was torc- state’s youngest CM. pal Yadav, and the party’s Azam Khan to propose the rliamentary board had met hed. There were also repor- Disregarding murmurs Muslim face, Azam Khan, th- name of Akhilesh as leader on Wednesday when Akhile- ts of Dalit huts being burnt of protests from party old-ti- at he was all in favour of ma- of the legislative party (and sh’s name was proposed as down at Sitapur. mers who are opposed to the king way for Akhilesh who therefore chief minister) at leader, but no decision could Mulayam Singh Yadav leadership of Akhilesh, Mul- galvanized the party and hel- Saturday’s meeting and Shi- be reached as Azam Khan and Akhilesh swung into ayam convened a late-night ped it romp home with a thu- vpal Yadav to second it, in the chose to stay put in his con- action but blamed officers meeting at his home to iron mping majority. The two are time-tested way of projecti- stituency Rampur, despite loyal to Mayawati who, the out the differences and work believed to have initially sho- ng a unified face to the world Mulayam Singh sending a latter claimed, were allowi- out a compromise formula wn hesitation in accepting and conveying that all was helicopter there to bring him ng the situation to spin out ahead of Saturday’s meet. Akhilesh’s elevation. well. That would make both to Lucknow. of control. P 12 Another MP Final report: Panel wants HC stays jail TIMES NEWS NETWORK most respected voices. The a heartwarming humility. IPS officer for John for fighter whose batting went Typically of the man, he is career stats are stun- from pretty to gritty depend- thanked many — coaches, se- attacked `` rash driving H ning (see Dravid’s Fab ing on the situation. lectors, teammates, captains, no I-T till 3L, new slabs Feats, above). But they Sixteen years after he de- physios and family. He spoke Deshdeep Saxena TNN Rebecca Samervel & don’t begin to define Rahul buted with a dazzling 95 at of looking forward to buying TIMES NEWS NETWORK Shibu Thomas TNN Dravid, the gentleman who Lord’s, Dravid, 39, exited first- groceries and picking up his Morena/Bhopal: A day DECODING DTC RBI slashes CRR, proved that nice guys can fin- class cricket with a press con- sons from school. And re- after a young IPS officer, New Delhi: The parliamenta- INCOME TAX SLABS `` Mumbai: A sessions court ish first. The ultimate team freshingly, in a country where frees up 48,000cr Narendra Kumar, was ry standing committee on fin- 0-3* Nil on Friday up- man, who uncomplainingly WELL LEFT | P27 25, & 2628 & 28 spectators have to suffer pa- mowed down by a tractor- ance on Friday suggested rew- he Reserve Bank of India on held a lower shouldered the burden of open- thetic facilities and mistreat- trolley laden with illegal- orking the income tax slabs, 3-10 10% TFriday lowered the cash court order ing the batting or keeping wick- ference in his home town, Ban- ment, he thanked the Indian reserve ratio—the portion of ly-mined stones in Madh- seeking exemption for inco- 10-20 20% holding act- ets whenever called upon to do galore. He signed off in the cricket fan. “The game is lucky ya Pradesh’s Morena dis- me up to Rs 3 lakh and wanti- deposits banks must maintain or John Abr- so. The braveheart who was manner that he had always to have you and I have been trict, reports have surfac- ng the highest tax rate of 30% Beyond 20-30% with it—freeing up more than Rs aham guilty lavish with praise and stingy played: with style, grace, dig- lucky to play before you.” ed about another IPS offi- to kick in at over Rs 20 lakh. To Senior citizen benefits 48,000 crore. Besides increasing of rash drivi- with excuses. The shy thinker nity and the straightest of bats. Thank you, Jammy. The cer having been targeted make the tax system more pr- from 60 yrs instead of 65 yrs availability of funds for loans, ng and sentencing him to 15 who grew into one of cricket’s There were no histrionics, only pleasure was all ours. in the state, this time by edictable, the panel recomme- Raise tax savings schemes banks can now earn interest on days in jail. The case relates the liquor mafia. nded that the slabs be indexed limit to Rs 3.2 lakh. In effect, money hitherto lying idle. to an April 2006 incident wh- Lenders say the cut could bring en the star rammed his bike Threat to kill, P 19 New slabs not this yr, P 26 annual income up to down interest rates. P25 Freight hike ups rates, P 25 Rs 6.2 lakh will not be taxed into a cyclist on Khar-Dhan- However, Jaidevan, da Road, injuring two youths Aspirin could help fight 11 cancers the additional SP of Bhi- to inflation and called for aut- (*Income in Rs lakh/year) currently at Rs 1.5 lakh. and himself. nd, narrowly escaped de- omatic revision. ed to Rs 1 lakh and a separate The committee has recom- Soon after the court gave Malathy Iyer TNN the best bet against 11 cancers. reas, lung, prostate, breast, and ath after he was attacked The report, which will he- deduction of Rs 50,000 be per- mended an exemption of Rs 3.2 its order, John was taken into This designer aspirin uses blood in mice. Their paper in by the supporters of a ru- lp the government push the mitted for higher education. lakh (excluding home loans), custody by police and put thr- Mumbai: An aspirin a day two gas molecules—nitric oxi- Biochemical and Biophysical ling BJP MLA for cracki- Direct Taxes Code, has also su- For purchasing medical insu- instead of Rs 2.7 lakh (includ- ough medical tests. But his may not just keep heart attack de and hydrogen sulphide — to Research Communication said ng down on them for selli- ggested that the exemption li- rance for elderly parents and ing home loans) at present. If lawyers made a dash for the away. If preliminary work of do the trick, the researchers their aspirin shrank “human” ng liquor on Holi, declar- mit for savings be enhanced grandparents, an additional the parliamentary panel’s pre- Bombay High Court which, some New York-based resear- said. They wrote in the ACS colon cancer tumours by 85% ed a dry day. Several sho- from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh. It exemption of Rs 20,000 has be- scriptions find favour with the just before its closure for the chers — two of them of Indian Medicinal Chemistry on Frid- in live animals. ps in Bhind’s Lahar Road suggested that the exemption en suggested by the committ- government, those with annu- day, stayed the jail term and origin—is an indicator, the hu- ay that their aspirin could con- were reportedly selling limit for life and health insur- ee, although it is silent on hou- al income of up to Rs 6.2 lakh ordered the actor’s release on mble aspirin could emerge as trol cancers of the colon, panc- ‘Can shrink tumours’, P 11 illicit liquor on Holi. ance, and education, be doubl- sing loan exemption which is will stay outside the tax net. a cash bail of Rs 20,000. P 2 NEWS DIGEST Women plan City school bus Let’s give ourselves their travel strike called off The indefinite school bus strike in the city has been the space we deserve better than called off. School bus owners Uma Kadam plan to move court to push for f there’s one aspect of city men: Study their demands. P 6 Ilife that has upset Mum- Cabbies threaten stir next: baikars the most over the TIMES NEWS NETWORK years, it is the poor availabil- Nearly 35,000 taxis in the city ity of open spaces. There Mumbai: Indians are infam- have threatened to go on aren’t enough parks to stroll ous for being last-minute trav- a strike from March 19 in, grounds to play on, or ellers. But it seems the tenden- demanding a fare hike. P 5 beaches and promenades to cy to not plan in advance and Advance rail bookings: simply unwind. take decisions at the eleventh The 120-day advance booking Open spaces like gar- hour is not a cultural hang up. It system for railway tickets will dens, waterfronts and green has rather to with gender, says come into effect today. patches not only positively a study done by an online travel affect the physical well-be- portal that tracked usage patt- Sunil Prabhu new mayor: ing of citizens, they also help erns of travel-related bookings The Shiv Sena’s Sunil Prabhu soothe the stresses and online. has been elected as Mumbai’s strains of the 24x7 life in a TOI will help debate the solutions to Mumbai’s lack of open spaces “The one very prominent new mayor. P 5 metro. Health experts agree trend that jumped out was Joy Mukherjee dead: Actor that playing in the outdoors hancing the availability and that women plan their travel DOUBLE BE EFIT not only takes children away GASPING FOR BREATH quality of open spaces. well in advance: 53% of book- N Joy Mukherjee, 73, of ‘Shagird’ No. Sq % and ‘Love in Tokyo’ fame, died from their sedentary life- Das and his team have ings involving women travell- Km in Mumbai on Friday. P 6 style but also teaches them drawn up a plan that seeks not ers are made more than two how to interact with nature, Gardens & 318 2.5 0.5 only to protect and develop re- weeks in advance,’’ said Noel Duronto from city to Delhi: Parks served open spaces, but also Swain of Cleartrip, the portal The Mumbai-Delhi route is set develop public areas along that conducted the study. Playgrounds 631 4 0.8 to get a Duronto train service lakes, ponds, beaches, hills, The study arrived at the tr- in the next 10 days. P 9 Recreation 603 7.2 1.6 mangroves, promenades and ends by tracking the 15 lakh- grounds other green zones. It seeks to odd bookings done on the web- Encroachments 501 5.3 1.1 create and integrate open site between April 2011 and See Pages 4 & 5 on above spaces in a manner that they 25% women go solo, P 11 HEIR LOOMS “intermingle with daily life”, develop friendships and be- ered up or encroached upon. says Das. (An exhibition of the February 2012. Compared to Once upon a Senior time only the come independent. Whatever the figure, the team’s solutions will run at the 53% advance bookings in On the face of it, the crime is obvious: There are the NGMA from March 15.) groups containing women, Citizens Others Congress was accused of BMC’s open space policy several open spaces out There is no reason why a only 43% men book two weeks Sr. Particulars running politics as a family Amount (In) Amount (In) says there are 2,398 spaces re- there, but they are not being city with a wealth of untapped in advance. “Twenty-one per — —______ business. Akhilesh Yadav and served for gardens, parks, acquired as green lungs for reserved areas, a national park cent of bookings containing A A Investment Amount 10,000 10,000 Sukhbir Badal’s success shows playgrounds and recreation the city. Meanwhile, many of within the municipal limits, a women travellers are made B Immediate Tax Savings 3,090 3,090 almost every party now runs grounds in the city. In reality, them fall prey to illegal 34-km coastline, a profusion of less than three days in ad- Effective Investment (A.B) ,910 6,910 on blood lines. Will this son not even 50% of the reserved slums and land sharks. beaches, lakes, and creeks, and vance, as compared to 32% C 6 rise bring greater light? open spaces (a mere 19 sq km The Times of India seeks promenades with world-class among men,’’ the study said. D Maturity Amount of original Investment 16, 187 15 ,797 or 2.1% of Mumbai’s land to open a debate on not just potential, has to languish in There are other gender-re- E Total Pro Tax Benefit on Deposits (D-C) 9.277 8,887 Candid yet coy Films discuss sex mass) has been acquired by the complaints against such congested and concretized con- lated traits. Of the 15 lakh people and therapy, but with a twist the BMC. When a team of official apathy, but also on fines that offer just 0.03 acre of who made a booking (the total F Rate of Interest 9.75% p.a. 9.25% p.a. Great Gama A graphic novelist city architects led by P K Das the solutions offered by citi- open space to every 1,000 people. number of tickets booked is mu- G Effective Annual Yield (5 yrs) 18.55% 7.77% traced 2,053 of the ‘open’ zens, professionals, social That sorry figure was ch larger as more than one ticket resurrects a wrestling legend spaces, it found a quarter en- organizations and govern- computed 40 years ago, when can be booked per transaction), F.Y. ...and more in today’s 24-page edition croached upon. Another sur- mental agencies. In TOI’s Mumbai had a population of only 19%, or 2.85 lakh, were wo- Key features : Maximum Deposit: 1 ,00,000 in one u//s 80C of the IT Act vey, by the Urban Design Re- ‘Mumbai For Me’ campaign, a little under 9 million. To- men. They included women Lock-in period: 5 years * PLUS 12 PAGES BOMBAY TIMES search Institute five years we seek to bring together day’s 12.4 million Mumbai- who booked an air ticket/hotel +8 PAGES TIMES PROPERTY ago, found that 45% of the various sections of society kars must demand the envi- room for themselves, family, Assuming a Tax Bracket of 30% * The Times of India is also available at `. 5.00 without the combo offer. To receive your copy, city’s open spaces had been to discuss how the quality of ronment and atmosphere friends and also women travel Visit us at www.sbi.co.in Call toll free 1800-11-22-Il or 1800-425-38-00800-425-38-00 please call 6635 4021 completely or partially cov- life can be improved by en- they deserve. agents who book for others. Times Classifieds | P 8 & 10 TIMES CITY >>Creating Open Spaces THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI | SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2012 PROMENADES & PLAZAS | BEACHES | RIVERS & NULLAHS | MANGROVES, CREEKS & WETLANDS | LAKES, PONDS & TANKS | PARKS, GARDENS, RECREATION & PLAYGROUNDS TOO CLOSED FOR COMFORT City neighbourhoods barely have open spaces NOT GREEN ENOUGH IN NEIGHBOURHOODS: OUR OPEN SPACE MAP
for relaxation and enjoyment of the outdoors. Interactive The result has taken a toll on our quality of life TOI Q. Is Mumbai losing Nauzer K Bharucha | TNN dren’s playing areas. “It is a uni- fought by a slew of spirited cit- open spaces to greed? versally acknowledged scientif- izens’ groups, activists and EMAIL speakout@times- emolish this struc- ic fact that play in the early years NGOs. In the last decade, an au- group.com with ture and set an ex- of life is one of the most impor- dacious move to exploit the 226- ‘Open’ in the subject line ample for all times tant phases of development, acre Mahalaxmi Race Course that ‘enough is leading to the blossoming of a was halted after citizens ap- SMS Type SO
Girgaum Chowpatty, bhel plaza and a sandy beach Marine A look at Marol garden, ground up Uma Kadam Drive
Before Colaba After Before After each beautification wasn’t on Btheir mind, but their fight to Sea Change lawyers Rafique Dada, Navroz Seer- Greening A Quarry save their daily bread led to one vai, Rajan Jayakar, public-spirited A handful of us started of the successful campaigns—with G In 1998, bhelwallahs moved the resident Indrani Malkani, politi- o most people, turning a revive a barren plot of land dur- doing up the garden. We G orders from the Bombay High Court. HC against demolition of their stalls cian Pramod Navalkar, civic offi- quarry into a garden re- In 2000-2001, members of ing their free time, turned into dug pits, planted trees and T Marol Military Road Residents’ A group of bhelpuri stall owners at G cial Subrat Ratho and eminent her- plete with trees, lawn and a larger effort with contribu- In March 2001, plan for a Bhel Welfare Association adopted a Girgaum Chowpatty moved the high Plaza and a panel for improvement itage architect Rahul Mehrotra. watered them. Slowly, the different species of birds would quarry and endeavoured to tions from local politicians, in- court against the BMC’s plan to de- Of Girgaum Chowpatty was passed Their efforts led to a structured bhel patch started to seem not just daunting but al- convert it into a garden cluding state minister Suresh molish stalls in 1998. plaza and, consequently, brought most impossible. But a look at Shetty, late MP Sunil Dutt, G Girgaum Chowpatty improvement G The area around a water foun- about a sea change in the experi- turn a lush green the 6.5-acre garden ensconced Soon, politicians, including Avinash Kubal of Mahim Na- plan includes the beach, parks, state minister Suresh Shetty, tain nearby was being misused as ence of a day out at the beach for Suresh Nair | MAROL in a remote corner of Marol ture Park and various corpora- children’s play area, a club and a late MP Sunil Dutt, Avinash were some spots on the beach. In all Mumbaikars. MILITARY ROAD RESIDENTS shows that a group of people tors. So far, the residents’ asso- restaurant, Birla Kreeda Kendra and Kubal of Mahim Nature Park WELFARE ASSOCIATION 2001, the HC set up a committee to water sports at Choti Chowpatty Over a decade later,the committee with an aim to transform their and various corporators began ciation has spent Rs 25 lakh on chalk out an improvement plan for G The committee continues to have is still going strong. “But some issues backyard can make it happen. to contribute to the effort the project. the beach. The team had retired are still pending and are in the process Since 2008, the rocky terrain Trupti Shetty,a resident in- a say in regulating beach activities G judge Justice S C Pratap, senior of being worked out,” said Malkani. The garden has proved to with about five levels has been In 2008, the 6.5-acre garden volved with the garden, said, “It spread across five levels was a favourite haunt of Marol res- is like a mini-forest. The garden be a blessing. The ladies thrown open to the public idents. The Bharatvan garden is beautiful and there are many wing that we set up has G The only issue now is vagrants on Citizen participation is a powerful tool. The has seen a growing stream of Today, the green relief varieties of trees. There is also taken the initiative of attracts visitors for walks, the beach. There has to be constant transformation of Girgaum Chowpatty is an visitors for walks, meetings, jogs a small play area and children educating slum and sporting activities. meets and sporting activities love going there. It has brought vigil, which is not happening. There example of how success can be children who The metamorphosis of the peace and freshness to our lives. is also unauthorised occupation in achieved in partnership with the come every quarry has been more than an gether and decided to develop We do have problems of main- the gaps between parked boats administration, thereby making uphill task. After realizing that it; members of the Marol Mili- tenance and security but then evening the quarry—an erstwhile haven tary Road Residents’ Welfare As- we did convert a barren land Rajan Jayakar | the system work successfully of drug peddlers and squat- sociation (MMRWA) adopted the into a green space.” Ramesh Pandit | MEMBER, HC-APPOINTED COMMITTEE FOR Indrani Malkani | MEMBER, MMRWA ters—was earmarked for a gar- plot in 2000-2001. What began as IMPROVEMENT OF GIRGAUM CHOWPATTY BEACH MEMBER, HC-APPOINTED COMMITTEE den, a group of residents got to- a humble endeavour by some to Continued on page 5 TIMES CITY >> Creating open spaces THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI | SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2012 LAYOUT RECREATION GROUNDS | FORTS & HISTORIC PRECINCTS | HILLS & FORESTS | CITY FORESTS | PEOPLE-FRIENDLY RAILWAY STATIONS | AREA NETWORKING OPEN SPACES ‘ HELP SOCIALUma Kadam NETWORKING’ TIMES NEWS NETWORK Cross Maidan gets a clean, mean look Hemant Shirodkar magine being able to walk or cycle from Mal- ad to Colaba or Chem- I bur to south Mumbai along well-maintained walking-and-cycling tracks, with gardens and parks to view or rest in along the way. Maybe you could even stop by a beach. Sounds unreal, especially in a city like Mum- bai, which offers an abysmal amount of open space to its 12.4 million residents. Before But this is one of the longer-term goals of the Open Mumbai plan being promoted by city architect P t was a long-drawn battle K Das and his team, who Ifor residents of Churchgate seek to change the way Mum- to get the authorities to take bai deals with open spaces. note of four acres of Cross After The plan may sound fanciful Maidan that had turned into but a year of research, doc- a no-man’s land. The space that umentation, mapping and was encroached upon and ren- collating statistics has gone dered absolutely unusable be- Cross-Over To Beauty into developing a vision that came a sanctuary for residents in June 2010. Nearly four acres G For years, Cross Maidan remained encroached upon, its seeks to place “people and of Cross Maidan near Church- fences were broken and it was rendered unusable community life at the centre gate at one end of Fashion Str- G The maidan’s beautification was conceptualized by the of planning, not real estate eet was thrown open to public. Organisation for Verdant Ambience and Land (Oval) Trust and construction potential”. For years, the patch had be- G In June 2010, nearly four acres of the new-improved maidan The team has mapped a come a cradle for hutments were thrown open to the public variety of open spaces and and fences were broken. Resi- other green zones across the G The plot now has a large expanse of trees, lawns, walking dents recall it as a virtual tracks as well as benches for senior citizens city,in the bargain conclud- “dumping ground”. ing that Mumbai sprawls WHERE’S MY PLAYGROUND? A bird’s-eye view of the Andheri-Malad area shows high-rises and slums battling for space and just a small barren patch of land that could serve as a recreation area The Organisation for Ver- across 482.7 square kilome- dant Ambience and Land We used the ground as tres and not 437, as com- It took us years to (Oval) Trust conceptualized one of the venues for monly cited. The team has residents’ dignity and qual- the project’s beautification. get the govt to concluded that an incredible ity of life.” Roadblocks cleared for Juhu ‘city forest’ Kala Ghoda festival. A Proposed city forest design The plot now has a large ex- pay heed to this 43%, or 208.2 sq km, of Mum- An example of how an This is a major win panse of trees, lawns, walking plot. Now, Cross Maidan gate must be made at bai includes green zones like area can be interlinked is in for residents who tracks and benches for seniors. the Veer Nariman Road gardens, playgrounds, en- the Juhu Vision Plan, which The Cross Maidan garden garden must be taken croached open spaces, no-de- seeks to integrate the beach were fighting a losing was handed over to the Oval as an example of how a end to attract more velopment zones, lakes, wet- with playgrounds, walking battle since 2004. We Trust in 2006. At that time, it haven can be created visitors. The encroached lands and beaches. Much of and cycling tracks. Authori- hope this will restore the was discovered that the gov- ground is cleared. It is this can be developed as pub- ties have already begun ernment resolution (GR) did with consistent efforts. lic spaces or at least pro- building tracks along the Irla city forest as visualized not include more than an acre The govt must ideally an example of how a tected from land sharks; Nullah with MPLAD funds Before After Ashoke Pandit | MEMBER, of the southern edge of the do its work and dump yard can be mangroves, for example, given by Javed Akhtar. SAVE OPEN SPACES IN JUHU ground hawkers had encroa- then seek converted into could have boardwalks for Overall, Das’s team calls ched upon. “The process of get- viewing or strolls. for amendments and provi- fter a seven-year-long save the plot on January 18, ting another GR for that space citizens’ help a green haven The plan seeks to link sions to be included in the battle with a private Get the Plot 2011, and met municipal co- took many years, and this area A was handed over to the trust Shirin Bharucha | neighbourhoods to parks, Development Plan and De- agency, members of G In 2004, citizens started a mmissioner Subodh Kumar. Nayana Katpalia | WORKS WITH URBAN walking tracks, beaches and velopment Control Regula- Save Open Spaces (SOS), battle to save an 18-acre Juhu Citizens submitted a de- in October 2009. The entire pro- TRUSTEE, RENEWAL TRUSTS promenades. “It seeks to net- tions to facilitate a a Juhu citizens group, succ- plot earmarked as ‘city forest’ sign plan, which was appro- cedure was lengthy but we OVAL TRUST work open spaces in a way makeover in Mumbai. The eeded in saving a vital recre- G ved by civic authorities. kept going,” said Nayana Kath- In Jan 2011, a delegation palia, one of the trustees of the that enables and nurtures plan calls for an Open Mum- ation ground plot, earmarked met civic chief Subodh Kumar The design plan includes social networking. Disparate bai Board, made up of gov- as a ‘city forest’ at JVPD growing a forest alongside Oval Trust. G In March 2011, Kumar open spaces, disparate ac- ernmental agencies and cit- scheme. It was former mu- the Irla nullah, building “Even after the plot was approved a proposal to handed over to us, the gov- tivity, disparate public life izens’ groups, to prepare a nicipal commissioner S S cancel Ronson Foundation’s walking and cycling tracks, can be integrated into a com- comprehensive plan for de- Tinaikar’s vision. introducing cultural spaces ernment gave it without clear- lease, which had been given ing the encroachments. In fact, prehensive whole,” Das says. veloping open spaces, The plot is adjacent to such as a small amphithe- on a caretaker basis even now there is a commer- “The quality of public “thereby improving the Vidyanidhi High School at atre, an art exhibition cen- G In Aug 2011, BMC gave its cial office functioning in the spaces a city offers its resi- quality of life and environ- JVPD scheme. Citizens had tre, children’s play area and nod to take possession of plot garden which needs to be dents is a reflection of the ment of the city”. made a last-ditch effort to a garden. cleared,” Kathpalia said. Shriram Vernekar First Pasta Lane walks up the garden path It has benefited 90% of Dr rBatra ’ s hair Call Toll—Free No.: he struggle was proba- cies, First Pasta Lane of Cola- plots earmarked as gardens pate nts won ’t cha nge to any bly as long and difficult ba finally got a green lung. and a recreational ground. The the whole 1 800—209—6767 T community. other brand fo r treatment SMS: HAIR to 09757070707 as the task to transform It all began 23 years ago movement lost momentum lat- -Independent study byAC Nielsen an encroached space into a with a residents’ movement er and was revived in 2006 wh- Email: [email protected] Because of the kitchen, Website: www.drbatras.com lush garden. After a long court against an eatery’s kitchen, a en the First Pasta Lane Resi- there was a lot of battle and follow-ups with the godown and a garage that had dents’ Association, through an Get BMC and government agen- encroached upon municipal RTI query, found out that the pollution. But now, we eatery stood on a BMC plot. have a long stretch of 20% off nJi 1-i- ‘ I Residents followed up with LJ aLI a S Pasta Perfect open space, which is UI I Ii 2UI.I I I5 I IL the BMC for over two years and G 23 years ago, Colaba residents first raised their voice against unusual in Mumbai. We Or Bairan Ch Ains: AAmlbnri (E) - Opp. McDonalds , Saktoalca I Andher i (W) - Neat to City Mall , Lcldiandwala I the kitchen was demolished. Bedvall (W).Opp McDonalds , Korakendral C oupaIty-Opp. BharhiyavidyaBhavanl G atkopar(E) .Opp. an eatery’s kitchen, a godown and a garage that had encroached Preparations to create the gar- have greenery and a Varnan Han Pethe MO RoadlJubu-Opp.J.W. MarriollHotel I Kalyan (E) -MehroJunctionMalll Kandlvall (C) . upon municipal plots earmarked as gardens and a ground den started in December 2009, - Thakur Complex . Western Exp. Highway I Khar (W) - Opp. Rapsthan Restaurant. SV Road I Mulund (W) G In 2008, BMC demolished the eatery’s kitchen; preparations to garden. Neighbouring Opp. Dominos . LBS. Mnrg I Mailman PWnt- Arcadia , Behind ICPA I Nerul (C) - Seclor 21 , Next to D Mart I said Vijay Advani, joint secre- Sattacruz (E) - NearVakola Potce Station I ‘Diane ( () - Opp. Nilin Company. PaPancnchphpaallddlaladd(I Vanhi - Sector ( - After create the garden started in December 2009 and it was thrown slumdwellers also use it tary of the First Pasta Lane Re- 17 , Noxt to Navratna Hotel open to the public in 2010 H sidents’ Association. Dilip Mehrotra | A RESIDENT 3 Countries • 34 Cities • 89 Clinics • Over 250 Doctors
, , LAS R& LED Now, cabbies CASIO . HYBRID New mayor wants a clean, threaten M ,y-fi e . Hyb d 1.9 1 SQ ,ce Long-life light source-approx. strike from flhIOI IEY 20,000 hours & Power saving operation beautiful and secure city ENVIRONMENT No Mercury Lamps March 19 Quick startup & shut down Prabhu iterated his agenda to Borivli, secured 122 votes, Ramdas Athavle. TIME Independents fulfill promises made in the while his rival, Harun Khan Thackeray later said that Manthan K Mehta | TNN SAVE party manifesto. “I want a (NCP), got 65 votes. the Sena, BJP, RPI worked clean, beautiful and a secure The process went on for together to get the numbers. Mumbai: Nearly 35,000 taxis & Allies Help Mumbai. I am aware that the over six hours as each corpo- “The independents believe in have threatened to go an in- city has many challenges to rator voted by a show of hand our agenda. Thirteen inde- definite strike from March Prabhu Win; deal with. I want to improve and then stood up to announce pendents had given their writ- 19 to demand an increase in the healthcare sector, roads, the name of the candidate ten support to the alliance,” fares due to revision in the water supply and security,” s/he was voting for.Cheering he said. prices of compressed natu- MNS Absent said Prabhu. on from the balcony of the Nine Samajwadi Party ral gas (CNG). Sukhada Tatke & The deputy mayor, too, is House were Shiv Sena CEO members too abstained. The A L Quadros, general sec- Shriram Vernekar Shawan Sen | TNN last mayoral election also saw retary, Mumbai Taximen’s six MNS members being ab- Union (MTU), said, “The he Shiv Sena, along sent and seven SP members Mumbai Metropolitan Re- Twith the Bharatiya abstaining. gional Transport Authority Janata Party (BJP) and Political observers said the (MMRTA) cancelled two other alliance partners got a MNS has always silently sup- meetings with the union to sainik elected as the first citi- ported the Sena whenever discuss the fare hike. If they zen of the country’s richest needed. “This time, the MNS continue to take our de- municipal corporation for the needs the Sena’s support for mands lightly, we will have fourth successive time on Fri- the Nashik mayor’s post,” an no option but to go on strike.” day. This came after the bon- observer said. In a proposal to MMRTA, the # # homie between the Sena and This is the first general taximen’s union has sought SAVE UPTO 1 LAKH IN 20,000 HOURS OF OPE RATION* Maharashtra Navnirman body meeting in many years an increase in minimum Sena (MNS) in Thane extend- where new and young faces fares from Rs 16 to Rs 20 and Laser LED Hybrid light source with approx . 20,OQO Laser & LED Hybrid light ed to the Brihanmumbai Mu- outnumbered the old. for every additional kilome- hours life saving on Coal of approx . 6 lamps * change source save upto 30% of Electricity nicipal Corporation (BMC), Many new members were tre from Rs 10 to Rs 12. On with all 28 MNS corporators both anxious and excited. A February 17, Mahanagar Gas Intelligent brightness control Quick stadup(5-8 sec) & shut down remaining absent. woman was seen rehearsing Ltd increased CNG prices by save uplo 50% of power consumption time save energy & time. Senior Sena member Sunil her ‘I vote for’ speech min- Rs 1.63 per kg. Prabhu (42), who has held sev- FIRST CITIZEN: Sunil Prabhu with deputy mayor Mohan Mithbaonkar utes before her turn. Auto union leader Sharad eral important portfolios in Another heaved a sigh of Rao has demanded a hike WJI E S PIIESENTATIUI I OTHER ADVANCED PEATURES the party, won with a majori- relief once she announced her from Rs 11 to Rs 16. • DLP 3D p rojection function ty of 125 votes garnered from Aditya’s history prof nominated vote and asked her neighbour his party,the BJP,Republican if she sounded okay. • Interactive pointing function t Xavier’s College assistant professor Avkash Jadhav got a • Intelligent brightnesscontrol Party of India, Akhil call four days ago from Aditya Thackeray, grandson of Shiv But the highlight was Bharatiya Sena and Bharipa S when Sena leader Uddhav 3 officials shifted • Automatic vertical keystone Sena chief Bal Thackeray, asking for his resume. He later got a correction Bahujan Mahasangh. All 15 call from Sena CEO Uddhav Thackeray offering him a Thackeray descended from Mumbai: The state gov- independents, including rebels nominated corporator’s post in the Brihanmumbai Municipal the balcony to the main hall ernment on Friday trans- • Built-in speaker (lWto lOW } Vishnu Gaikwad and Vijay Corporation. It was a “pleasant surprise” for Jadhav, who has and many new corporators ferred three IAS officers: J • Wiae-angle zoom Iens(1 2X to Tandel (both Congress) and took out their mobile S Saharia, additional chief MOBISHOW taught Aditya for two years. Jadhav’s interaction with Aditya COMPATIBLE Cyril D’Souza (Nationalist was not restricted to the classroom. “We had lively discussions phones and ran towards him secretary, relief and reha- • HDMlterminalinall models Congress Party), voted for the even outside. He is a down-to-earth person with a vision,” said to get a photo clicked. Many bilitation, was shifted to the WIRELESS CONNECTION Ve y tro n l odoI to oo l Sena. Jadhav, who teaches history and has a keen interest in social of them were Congress and school education depart- Sunil More, a Congress- service. From presenting research papers, Jadhav’s focus in the NCP corporators. ment; Vijay Suryavanshi, NCP nominee and staunch BMC will be education. “I see this as a platform to work for the The five new nominated private secretary to cabinet WIDE RANGE OF PROJECTORS AVAILABLE IN: Narayan Rane supporter, se- city rather than a ward,” he said. Aditya said, “The idea is to councillors are Ashwin minister Harshavardhan SLIM (5 models), STANDARD (8 models), SHORT-THROW (2 models) & PRO SERIES (4 models) cured 65 votes and it appeared bring in more vibrancy to the corporation.”—Shawan Sen Vyas (BJP), Avakash Jad- Patil, was appointed joint that the combine did not do hav, Mahiraj Shaikh (both CEO, MIDC; and Bhandara much to garner the inde- from the saffron alliance. Mo- Uddhav Thackeray, son Aa- Shiv Sena), Parul Mehta district collector P B Kalb- pendents’ support. han Mithbaonkar (BJP), from ditya Thackeray, BJP leader (Congress) and Girish hor was named Gondia col- DEALERSHIP ENQUIRIES SOUCffED Soon after his election, the party’s stronghold in Vinod Tawde and RPI leader Dhanorkar (MNS). lector. TNN CASIO INDIA CO., PVE LTD. NewDeIhi (Heed Offlce( 210, 1 t FIoo1. OkhIe Indu trhI E tete, Phaco II, NewDo Ihi 20. Ph.:0h1.41054321 Mowbei: 022 64575200, Ben eIore, 020.41426235, Chennei: 044-60605005, Hyderebed: 040-60605005, Kolkete, 033.60605005 For wore d teiI litit. www.ce io.eo.in TIMES CITY >>Creating Open Spaces SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI | MARCH 11, 2012 PROMENADES & PLAZAS | BEACHES | RIVERS & NULLAHS | MANGROVES, CREEKS & WETLANDS | LAKES, PONDS & TANKS | PARKS, GARDENS, RECREATION & PLAYGROUNDS WHY CAN’T PUBLIC MONEY BE USED FOR PUBLIC SPACES? BMC Discourages Residents Adopting Open Spaces From Using Funds Of Elected Reps Uma Kadam A CHILDHOOD Clara Lewis | TNN
G In France, parks in various towns bear a plaque that says the LOST TO COUCH safety and security of every visi- tor is the direct responsibility of the town’s mayor. A dearth of grounds has circumscribed G Last November in the US, may- ors across the country collectively children’s play time to computer games petitioned President Barack Oba- ma to use the Land and Water Con- and TV. With this, their mental space servation Fund for urban parks and open spaces. Their goal: for original thinking is shrinking as well ‘everyone in America should live within a short walk of a park that Uma Kadam is clean, safe and vibrant.’
t’s a raging debate in Mum- bai. Why shouldn’t more public money go into pro- I tecting and developing re- served open spaces—name- ly parks, gardens, recreation grounds and playgrounds? The BMC is partial to the care- taker policy,which seeks to allow private parties to maintain open spaces as long as the private group gets a portion of the space to com- mercially exploit. If the BMC al- lows a citizens’ group to adopt an open space—in which no com- mercial exploitation occurs—then it wants to insist that no MLA or Cooped-Up MP funds go into the venture. Development However,activists question this G Open spaces are vital to a dichotomy of not allowing public child’s development. They funds to be used for public spaces. provide a child with an outlet for After all, the Carter Road prome- physical energy, thus contributing nade was restored with help from to the overall well-being Shabana Azmi’s MPLAD funds, G They expand a person’s while the Juhu beach revamp was KICKING AROUND ON A DUSTY GROUND: Children play on a poorly maintained field hemmed in by shanties and garbage in the northwestern suburbs thought and actions, and thus aided by both Azmi’s and Hema prove to be stress-busters These kids have Malini’s MPLAD funds. such spaces. At a rate of Rs 11 lakh commissioner, in charge of gar- these projects,” said an activist served open space, it gives TDR DANGEROUS SPORT: G Green spaces and water no option but to play on the road There is also a track record of per acre, Citispace had calculated dens. The use of civic corporator from Mahakali Caves, Andheri to the owner.It then declares that bodies have a mitigating effect citizens’ groups successfully main- that it would not cost the BMC funds are also discouraged. (East). The local ALM got into it can’t maintain the space and on anxiety disorders, medically taining open spaces. When the more than Rs 103.4 crore to devel- Activists argue that if an elect- trouble with the BMC for asking so gives it to a private caretaker. Madhavi Rajadhyaksha | TNN unexplained physical symptoms state wanted to develop and main- op and maintain these spaces dur- ed representative’s funds can be local MLA and minister Suresh The city loses in two ways — and depression tain Cross Maidan, it turned to the ing the first year such a project spent on toilets, gutters and paver Shetty for funds to maintain the more construction and zero open he changing nature of Organization for Verdant Ambi- was taken up. “The expenditure Meenatai Thackeray garden. space,” says RTI activist Amil parental tussles with calating stress and pent-up frus- ence and Land (Oval) Trust, which in subsequent years would re- Hansel D’Souza, president, Galgali. “When the civic body ac- their school-going chil- tration, believe mental health ex- Playgrounds must not be T had earlier successfully restored duce,” said a Citispace activist. Juhu Citizens’ Welfare Group, said quires an open space it must fund dren in Mumbai homes perts who say open spaces are Oval Maidan, a Grade I heritage A more detailed documenta- given to private parties, as citizens struggled and fought to its development and mainte- is perhaps the most telling indi- known to expand the horizon of ground. “Rope in local stakehold- tion of reserved open spaces in the the public will then not have save the beach and six gardens. nance. Local residents and NGOs cator of how open spaces, or rath- people’s thought and actions. ers and form a partnership with city,conducted over the past year “Now we have white elephants. are the best security guards, so er the lack of them, have altered Shankar Das, chairperson of residents. Money must come from by architect P K Das’s team, re- access to them at all times, The maintenance of one garden they must be made stakeholders.” the quality of life for most Mum- the Centre for Health Policy,Plan- the civic budget,” says Nayana vealed there are 4,695 acres of re- says environmentalist costs approximately Rs 50,000 a Private funds can be used to baikars. Till a decade ago, chil- ning and Management at TISS, Kathpalia, trustee, Oval Trust. served open spaces in the city and Samir Mehta month. How do we raise the mon- maintain public spaces, as long as dren would fight for a few more says there is an increasing body Citispace, an NGO that for two 1,310 of them are encroached. ey every time?” he asked. Citizens no exploitation results and resi- hours of play time outdoors. To- of empirical evidence in recent decades has been fighting to pre- The BMC takes umbrage when pay taxes to the BMC. “By not pro- dents are involved. For example, day,however, parents have to lit- years that demonstrates that open serve open spaces, has also em- citizens who have adopted a gar- blocks, why can’t they be used for viding funds, the BMC is shirking a company can fund maintenance erally struggle to get their chil- space and natural environment phasized civic funding and peo- den or park approach a local elect- open spaces. “Not everyone can its responsibility,”he said. while locals help with upkeep. dren out of the couch and into can promote mental health and ple’s participation. The NGO had ed representative for funds. “The travel to Juhu beach or the Gate- Activists alleged that the BMC When old areas are taken up for the compound. relief from stress. “Access to out- made the first comprehensive at- circular which does not allow the way everyday. Open spaces are a behaves thus to ensure that open redevelopment, one-third can be Health experts believe the dis- door spaces and open air recre- tempt to research and locate re- MP or MLA fund to be used for fundamental right and improve spaces are given on a platter to pri- reserved for open spaces subsi- appearing parks and playgrounds ation offers respite from routine served open spaces in the city and open spaces still stands,” said Sub- quality of life. Our elected repre- vate parties for exploitation. dized by luxury homes and com- are redefining growing up for activities and causes the mind and found approximately 940 acres of hash Karvande, deputy municipal sentatives must be allowed to fund “When the BMC acquires a re- mercial complexes in the area. GenNext. “Children must have body to relax. Research studies outdoor facilities to run about and suggest that anxiety disorders, play for their normal growth,” medically unexplained physical Claustrophobic, arid and filthy grounds, hemmed in symptoms and depressive disor- ‘Studies suggest that ders reduce when there are open FEELING BLUE, and green spaces near the pa- by the concrete jungle, could do more harm than anxiety disorders, tients’ homes,” he says. unexplained physical Open spaces are vital to citi- NOT GREEN good to your health, warn city doctors symptoms and depressive zens’ survival as the mind, body disorders reduce when and nature are all closely inter- Madhavi Rajadhyaksha | TNN Today we have a Today, we in Mumbai are in connected. “Space is suggestive situation where a sorry situation where we there are open spaces’ of your own area of freedom. t is not for nothing that open doctors tell lack environmental People who stay in areas with the spaces are called a city’s says Dr Y Amdekar,paediatrician most open space are likely to I lungs. Parks, water fronts Mumbaikars to go out, take common sense due to and medical director of Wadia have an open view of their life and mangroves determine a walk or citizens which most of our water hospital. He explains that outdoor and their futures,” says Shub- pretty much all of a city dweller’s themselves are becoming bodies are poisoned with play equips children not only with hangi Parkar, psychiatrist at health and well-being. The quali- physical exercise, which con- KEM Hospital. She believes ty of open spaces, after all, deter- more aware about the heavy metals. These metals tributes to overall well-being, but Mumbaikars who are forced to mines the purity of air citizens benefits of being active, but are hazardous; lead for also teaches them several behav- live a four-walled existence are breathe, defines play activities there is no space. Green instance causes high blood ioural aspects such as interact- unconsciously always trying to their children indulge in, affects spaces are important as pressure, heart disease, ing with nature, developing create space for themselves. the incidence of infectious dis- friendships and becoming inde- “This keeps the mind constant- eases as well sets the benchmark they boost the overall well- aggressiveness and pendent. “A sedentary childhood ly agitated. Mumbaikars often for citizens’ physical activity. being of people besides intellectual backwardness. adversely affects the mental fac- avoid going into communities With open spaces in Mumbai absorbing vehicular Open spaces would enable ulties of children. With video which limits their interactions rapidly shrinking, Mumbaikars, games and television, for in- as well,” she says. though, experience more of the ill- pollution Mumbaikars to stance, children merely use their Das believes policy makers effects of these spaces than gains. get away from reflexes rather than their think- and urban planners need greater Chest physician Salil Bendre Rohini Chowghule | their stress ing prowess,” he says. inclination and motivation to of the Environmental Medical As- INDIAN INSTITUTE The couped-up existence af- work towards creating and main- sociation of India puts it simply. OF ENVIRONMENTAL Dr Altaf Patel | fects adults as well. Lolling around taining such spaces. “Such “An environment replete with MEDICINE, KASTURBA PHYSICIAN, JASLOK in a park, jogging along the sea- spaces are even more valuable in plants and trees enables air (oxy- HOSPITAL HOSPITAL side or picnicking in a forest could terms nurturing the mind, body gen) flow and makes it easier for be the most effective balm for and soul in a densely populated Laughter clubs could gain from greener precincts people to breathe. However, over- RIGHT WAY TO HEALTH: Physician Hemant Thacker of eases such as leptospirosis spread Mumbaikars’ collective angst, es- city like Mumbai.” crowding in terms of concretiza- Bhatia and Jaslok hospitals ex- by rats and mosquito-caused tion and construction of infra- Down In The Dumps plains that open spaces covered dengue and malaria claimed hun- It’s absolutely vital to have access to open structure projects in the city pre- with greenery boost the environ- dreds of Mumbaikars in its wake. vents the natural flow of air.” WHO estimated environmental burden of diseases in India: mental health of a city,but points Open spaces then have a col- spaces as it puts one in tune with nature. The Not surprisingly,his clinic in G An average Indian loses roughly 14 days of their life per year out that much of Mumbai’s grou- lateral health impact. The World vastness of nature has the capacity to put one’s Andheri, like most other neigh- (disability-adjusted life year) due problems of water, sanitation and nds and parks that haven’t been Health Organization lists diar- problems and thoughts in perspective. Open spaces hygiene caused by unkempt water bodies bourhood centres, sees a steady utilized appropriately are reduced rhoea, lower respiratory infec- thus have several benefits, starting with creating self- flow of wheezing children and G Diarrohea, respiratory infections, malaria and other vector-borne to dumps and garbage mounds, tions, other intentional injuries, asthmatic Mumbaikars. Sever- diseases, road traffic injuries (due to lack of jogging and walking tracks) which adversely affects the health road traffic injuries and malaria awareness, sensitivity to one’s thoughts, awareness of al connect the increasing inci- and neopsychiatric disorders are among the leading diseases due to of citizens. “They become breed- as the top five diseases with the la- others, opening up one’s mind and thought, thus dence of respiratory problems environmental burden ing grounds for mosquitoes, rats rgest environmental contribution. promoting a sense of overall well-being. It such as chronic obstructive pul- G Nearly 86 % of annual deaths are due to diarrohea related to the lack and termites, and contribute to the Underlining the need for green- monary disorder (COPD) and of water sanitation and hygiene slush and muck flooding during ing Mumbai, tree lover and gy- is essential for Mumbaikars to reclaim asthmatic bronchitis to the (Source: World Health Organization) the rain,” he says. The effect was naecologist Dr Anahita Pundole access to spaces they have or create shrinking green environs. played out during the July 2005 del- says the ability to sit and inhale in opportunities wherever they can. Bring Doctors believe that another aching joints—would be signifi- ly,a seeming luxury in a city with uge when the city was submerged a park adds several years to one’s back picnics or encourage children to go common complaint among Mum- cantly mitigated if they were to over 20,000 persons packed into in 944 mm of rain in a single day. life. “Some moments in a park are baikars—that of creaky bones and get sunlight on open grounds, dai- every square kilometre. The outbreak of infectious dis- the best form of rejuvenation.” out and play
TOI Interactive ‘WE, THE CITIZENS, SHOULD FACE THESE PROBLEMS TOGETHER & FIGHT AGAINST THE FORCES THAT THREATEN OUR OPEN SPACES’ Shamsah Sonawalla | PSYCHIATRIST, JASLOK HOSPITAL
Q. Should citizens be allowed to Yesterday we asked if Mumbai is losing its open spaces to greed. is? They care two hoots about the ike it or not, greed is tightening use public funds for open spaces? Here are a few of your responses: common Mumbaikar, who craves Lits grip as encroachment takes Outdoor or open spaces clearly have benefits for for an open space in which he or public lands away from us, the EMAIL [email protected] children. Apart from improving physical activity and with ‘Funds’ in the subject line t’s a shame that Mumbai has small hotels run over 100 small she can walk or run. They also citizens of Mumbai. Builders, hence fitness, they reduce the risk of obesity. Physical Ionly seven public swimming swimming pools, with recycled don’t care about children, who vendors and slumdwellers all SMS Type SO
Hemant Shirodkar Sukhada Tatke | TNN Flagstaff Gardens, Melbourne, Australia pread across 7.2 hectares few years ago, Powai S(18 acres), Flagstaff residents noticed that a gardens is the oldest park in developer had con- Melbourne, established way A structed buildings back in 1862. A paradise for around a reserved play- office-goers and tourists, it ground. Although the ground could is acknowledged for its still be accessed, the gate was guard- horticultural, archaeological, ed by burly security men. The sight historical and social significance to Melbourne. The park, was enough to confound the neigh- managed by the City of Melbourne, is replete with lawns bouring slumdwellers and keep them that boast mature trees, and is equipped with sports at bay.A bunch of residents felt some- facilities. Locals are allowed to rent it for barbeque. thing was amiss and approached Plaques, memorials and sculptures light up the area. NGO CitiSpace for help. Melbourne has 55.4 square metres of open space per A look through municipal records resident and an interactive open space policy. showed up that the plot was indeed a public playground. After meetings and follow-ups with the developer,the res- CREEK idents managed to resolve the problem amicably.This was possible only beca- Sherman Creek, New York, USA use they were armed with knowledge. Likewise, if there is a reserved open he creek situated along space languishing in your backyard or Tthe Harlem river in the has fallen prey to misuse and you want neighbourhood of Inwood, to save it, information is key, say ac- Upper Manhattan, had fallen tivists. It may be a long-drawn battle into neglect since the before the plot is actually used for its seventies. Its fate changed in original purpose. But, if you’re deter- 2003 when a host of residents mined to save the green lung, it is not and local bodies came such a Herculean task. together and conducted a Open space activists say that the study on the area. Their research showed that local first step towards reclaiming a space residents desperately wanted to reclaim and enjoy the for either a playground, recreation waterfront, and that they were rooting for a pedestrian ground, park or garden is to know its esplanade. Recommendations regarding the creation of a reservation status in the development waterfront, walkways, parks and recreation grounds plan (DP). Many a times, it ends up be- were undertaken for implementation since 2004. ing a private plot and nothing much can be done about it then. However, if Egmond Beach, The Netherlands it is reserved under the DP for any type he Netheralands has a The battle to stop illegal quarrying at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park went all the way to the Bombay High Court of open space, a battle can be forged. CHIPPING AWAY AT MOTHER NATURE: Tthrorough monitoring The first stop is at the assistant mu- system of its coastline. nicipal commissioner’s office or the makes things simpler if we know the that the construction is not for ancil- More than 25% of local corporator.However,experts ad- status of the open space before appro- Six things to do to save your open spaces lary reasons, the complainant should Netherlands is below the vise that before approaching either, it aching the authorities.” The NGO gets If you find an open space languishing or who will read the DP for you take the matter further and seek help sea level and the coast is is worth the while to be armed with at least 50 inquiries a month on how encroached upon in your backyard: 4) If the plot—either a recreation ground, from experts.” Sometimes, the officer made up of sand dunes basic information about the garden. to save an open space. 1) You could approach the local ALM or playground, garden or park—is reserved could tell the person that the plot be- and beaches. Authorities But how does one get the information? Another tool for finding out the sta- an NGO with your problem for an open space, you could go ahead longs to another government agency. annually record points at “If people don’t know how,they can tus of an open plot in your vicinity is 2) Alternatively, you could go to the and file a complaint “But one should bear in mind that re- every 250 metres to ensure protection. Beach nourishment approach us or the local ALM to find by using the Right to Information Act. corporator or the ward officer. However, 5) Register your complaint on the BMC gardless of ownership, it is the BMC’s using high-capacity suction dredgers is initiated wherever out the status of the garden — whether Often, officials try and misguide the this would help only if you know the helpline 1916 or by visiting the ward duty to ensure it is being used for what long-term erosion is spotted. The nourishment plan was it is reserved or not. We help them look person asking her or him to give the plot’s reservation status beforehand office’s citizens facilitation centre or log it is reserved.” undertaken in 1996 after about 50 metres of Egmond up the location on the DP and tell them City Survey Number of the plot, which 3) Once you approach the ALM or NGO, the complaint on the BMC website Activists warn that often one must vanished into the sea. The local government was spiralled about it. A local architect can also help is very difficult to find. “However,giv- find out the reservation status of the mcgm.gov.in be willing to wage a long-drawn bat- into action on coastal issues after a huge storm surge look up the DP.If the plot is indeed re- ing the exact location by describing ground from the Development Plan. You 6) Once the complaints are filed, follow tle. “Complaints need to be relentless- disaster in the fifties. The coast now boasts revetments served and is either encroached upon the proximity of the plot to other land- could even approach an architect up regularly with concerned officers ly followed, else they run a risk of go- (embankment), groynes ( jetties) and beach nourishment or used for activities other than the marks is enough,” said RTI and open ing unattended into a black hole,” said (for conservation). reservation, one can go ahead and reg- space activist Bhaskar Prabhu. Problem arises if the law on open plain, authorities can twist the tale and Praja trustee Nitai Mehta. The NGO ister a complaint with the civic body,” “Under the Act itself, it is stipulat- spaces is not clear; it is often misused. tell him that construction is permissi- has compiled various complaints re- RAILWAY STATION said CitiSpace co-convenor Nayana ed that all records need to be main- “Under the Development Control Rules, ble,” said former municipal commis- ceived by the BMC. “Although there is Kathpalia. “Officials are always more tained by the government agency. In about 15-20% of the construction is per- sioner D M Sukhtankar. “The com- no specific record of the number of Ourense Ave Station, Spain cautious if they know that people are fact, officials are even expected to help missible on open spaces. This is where plainant should not give up and probe complaints related to open spaces, aware of what is rightfully theirs. It the citizen file the application.” the misuse lies. If a layman goes to com- further. If at face value, one can see there are many on encroachments.” new high-speed Arailway The law does not really station is being TOI Interactive ‘BY DEFINITION, PUBLIC FUNDS MUST BE USED FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD’ designed in the city protect open spaces. of Ourense in Q. Do you think citizens need a better system The BMC discourages citizens who want to adopt open spaces from using the funds of elected The provision to permit Galicia, situated in through which complaints can be made and representatives to maintain the spaces. We asked readers on Saturday if public funds should be used for around 15-20% construction on north-western Spain. public spaces. Here are some responses: open space should be scrapped It envisages prompt action can be taken against parties interlinking the rail that usurp and/or misuse open spaces? Public funds must be allocated for because our democratically elected used for the public good. If the as this is used to misguide infrastructure with public spaces. Today, it’s becoming leaders have failed again and again public good is served by people. An open space should be spanking new urban [email protected] with very difficult for children to play to deliver. Let’s get real. Unless encouraging more open and green EMAIL allowed to be left open to the parks and ‘Rights’ in the subject line outdoor games as there are no there is really good leadership spaces in our increasingly sky with no pedestrian walkways. As per the design, the station is SMS Type SO
GAVEL FOR GREEN OTHER KEY HC CASES G In the national park litigation, initiated by In 10 yrs, HC batted for 33,000 green acres Debi Goenka of the Bombay Environmental Uma Kadam Action Group (BEAG), the HC in 2003 ordered The Supreme Court has overturned a the removal of 70,000 encroaching few of the verdicts passed by the high structures, rehabilitation of 11,000 illegal Judiciary Has Often Stepped In To Stop The dwellers, construction of a 98km boundary court, but also upheld various others. wall and a ban on illegal quarrying across Plunder Of Open Spaces In The Mumbai Region Juhu and Girgaum beaches, both “im- 200 acres. In subsequent orders, another portant public spaces”, as the high court 14,000 people had to be rehabilitated. Till Swati Deshpande | TNN Without the HC orders, termed them, would still have been dens now, about 50,000 structures have been the national park would of crime and grime had the court not removed, 9,000 people relocated to decade ago, a tiny two-para- stepped in. HC judges visited both beach- graph court order packed one have been overrun by es to take stock of problems. In 2001, high Chandivli (not all actually left the park) and encroachers and the only 30 km of wall have been built. A of the mightiest punches for a court judges A P Shah and S J Vazifdar city starved of open spaces. An mangroves wiped out by appointed a committee to beautify and G A PIL filed by BEAG to preserve interim command, it halted the Slum Re- monitor Girgaum Chowpatty. Nearly 50 mangroves, especially in Andheri, Goregaon, builders. But the habilitation Authority’s plan to let de- authorities have been food stalls that littered the beach were or- Malad, Malvani and Kanjurmarg, led to a velopers dig into plots reserved for gar- ganized into a bhel plaza. The court passed landmark verdict in 2005. The HC placed a dens, parks and playgrounds. lax in implementing final orders in 2005, accepting guidelines “total freeze on cutting and destruction of A vigilant NGO, Citispace, challenged the orders to halt further encroachments and pre- mangroves across the state” and sought as “flawed and illegal” the new state pol- —Debi Goenka | ENVIRONMENTAL vent political rallies and giving a thumbs- their mapping and notification as icy to allow slum rehabilitation on re- ACTIVIST WHO HAS FILED PILS down to the state’s plea to permit “social” “protected forest”. The state in 2007 served open spaces and the Bombay High functions on the beach 60 days a year.Jus- identified 60 sq km of mangroves, only to Court responded with matching urgency. tice Shah had observed, “Chowpatty is later whittle this down to 20 sq km as In July 2002, the court said, “Until further one of the few scenic spots in the city various authorities argued that “mangrove Politicians have played a major orders, no new rehabilitation scheme (is) which can be enjoyed by the citizens of destruction is necessary for development to be sanctioned without permission of role in ensuring that the city is this overcrowded city.” and prevention of floods”. this court, on open spaces reserved for starved of open spaces. Would Juhu beach got a makeover after the G In 2004, an HC bench headed by Justice A gardens, parks, playgrounds, recreation- Juhu beach have ever been HC ordered the demolition of walls erect- P Shah stayed a proposal to commercially al spaces, maidans, pavements, roads and cleaned and beautified ed by beachside bungalows, housing so- exploit a part of the 226-acre Mahalakshmi carriageways.” The order,faded from pub- cieties and hotels and the removal of en- Race Course. The court called it a “matter of lic memory, remains interim, but still if the HC passed no croachments in 2005. The following year grave concern and against public interest”. stands as a protective shield against the orders? The it gave its approval to a Rs 2-crore beau- The Royal Western India Turf Club had plunder of precious public playgrounds citizens’ only hope is tification scheme chalked out by archi- entered into an agreement with a private and parks already encroached upon. the judiciary tect P K Das for the 4km sandy sea-face. developer, Pegasus Infrastructure, to set up The next victory came a year later, It was a three-year battle waged by the a hotel, convention centre, service when the HC rejected the state’s ambi- —Gautam Patel | COUNSEL Save Juhu Beach committee and others. apartments and golf course. The club was to tious plan to rehabilitate nearly 7,000 WHO HAS ARGUED FOR PILS More than anything else, it was the get get Rs 135 crore and other royalties. slumdwellers who were spread across 46 battle to get open spaces for Mumbai from G Last but not least, the high court halted pockets and 180 acres of the vast Aarey acres of mangroves in Mumbai, Navi the sale of mill lands that pitted builders the sale of five NTC mill lands in the heart of Milk Colony,Goregaon. The plan was to Mumbai and Thane, 50 acres of Aarey against citizens, activists and environ- the city in 2005. The scheme was for 600 house them on 50 acres of the colony’s No NDZ, parts of the 226-acre Mahalaxmi mentalists. While the Supreme Court set acres of land. The modification in 2001 of Development Zone (NDZ). Race Course and 17,500 acres of the na- aside the HC verdict in the case, the words the crucial Development Control Regulation The high court has been saving the tional park in Mumbai and Thane. of HC Justice S Radhakrishna, who quot- 58 significantly reduced open spaces the Mumbai region’s greenery one Public In- The major battles include the one that LONG, WINDING STRUGGLE: Citizens have had to fight in court to save mangroves ed writer Aldous Huxley,still ring in the city was to get, said Goenka. The matter terest Litigation (PIL) at a time. In the last started in 1995 to rid the Sanjay Gandhi ears. Radhakrishna said if Mumbai is de- went to the SC, which set aside the HC decade alone it has single handedly pro- National Park—35 times the size of New mukh for the allotment of 20 acres of NDZ groves, changes to Development Control prived of lung space, the city may get a verdict and allowed a three-way split of tected, prevented construction on or re- York’s Central Park—of massive en- in Aarey Milk Colony to filmmaker Sub- Rules, changes in land reservation and “next generation full of idiots and mo- open lands (non-built-up lands) between moved encroachments from over 33,000 croachment and illegal quarrying, and hash Ghai’s film school Whistling Woods sales of mill lands. It also beautified beach- rons”. “We should not forget the duty of the developer, Mhada (for public housing) acres — an area that would cover 1,500 the very recent scathing indictment of International. In between, the judiciary es and protected the race course from be- the present generation to posterity for and BMC (for open spaces). Oval Maidans. The land includes 15,000 former chief minister Vilasrao Desh- played a key role in monitoring man- ing home to cranes instead of horses. playgrounds and housing,” he said. TIMES CITY >> Promenades, Plazas THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI | THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2012 PROMENADES & PLAZAS | BEACHES | RIVERS & NULLAHS | MANGROVES, CREEKS & WETLANDS | LAKES, PONDS & TANKS | PARKS, GARDENS, RECREATION & PLAYGROUNDS If All Goes As Planned, Bandra’s Coastline Will Soon Get Its Fourth Promenade After Bandstand, Carter Rd & Land’s End Evening walk along Chimbai beach, Hemant Shirodakar So much garbage is thrown into the sea that there is no solution to it. The BMC garbage van comes at 11 am and the local residents anyone? throw their garbage into the sea after 8 pm. There should be bins near the shore. Until the garbage is removed,
Linah Baliga | TNN ramps) for fishermen to dock and re- beautification of the pair their boats. There will be other beach will remain a t used to be an idyllic strip of spaces to carry out their cultural and distant reality coast from St Andrew’s Church community activities,” said Das. It right up to Jogger’s Park in Ban- would be integrated with Bandstand Arden Uttankar | I dra (West). Now it languishes in and Carter Road. CHIMBAI RESIDENT a decrepit state, strewn with rub- The plan also features open spaces ble and overrun by encroachers. This and an amphitheatre for cultural and The schedule of the tide is is Chimbai beach, which outlines the social programmes like at Carter Road eponymous fishing village. and Bandstand. Extra toppings include hampering the cleanliness drive. In 2008, local fishermen, along with a children’s park, a playground and a We also learnt that the BMC Bandra residents, decided that enough few gardens as well. An edge wall has didn’t have enough garbage was enough and that the beach must be been envisioned to prevent its deface- trucks. It’s even worse now. The restored to its former glory. A plan to ment and keep it off-limits from en- turn this wish into a reality was con- croachers. harbour division was supposed ceived by architect P K Das — and nine “We have also planned for weekend construct a tsunami wall to set months ago, it got the BMC’s approval. bazaars where the local fishing com- up a certain boundary to break The beautification plan goes beyond munity could serve the visitors fish the force of the tide. Nothing reclaiming the stretch. The entire cooked in their traditional style. So, on CHANGING SHORELINE: A view from a fish-drying yard of the seashore that will be revamped and beautified came of that plan. Encroachment length would be lined with walkways weekends one could walk in and buy and a promenade, to be shaded by co- fried fish, fish curry or fish tandoor and have been fighting against rampant il- learnt that the BMC didn’t have enough Falcon remembers the time when has increased and they conut groves and other plantations. enjoy a typical traditional fish meal,” legal construction for three years. The garbage trucks. It’s even worse now.The the beach was never short of fresh fish first have to do a “Chimbai is a part of our masterplan said Das. BMC and the collector just pass the harbour division was supposed con- and crabs. survey on the for waterfront development and follows But the reality is different today.The buck,” said Arden Uttankar, a local struct a tsunami wall, to set up a cer- “There was ankle-deep sand on the number of our earlier projects at Carter Road, Ban- builder lobby has not spared these Chimbaikar. The idea of restoring the tain boundary to break the force of the beach for kids. Elderly people would sit dra Bandstand and Juhu beach,” said sandy shores and 15 buildings have beach will begin to take shape only if tide. Nothing came of that plan. En- there and play cards.” Today, the rocks structures in the Das. “The endeavour is to integrate the come up on it. For the last seven years, the rubble-clearing process succeeds. croachment has increased and they first that they walked on during their child- CRZ area beach plan and put it into the network the developers have been eyeing Chim- “The schedule of the tide is ham- have to do a survey on the number of hood are covered with construction de- Warrren Falcon | of public spaces in Mumbai to safe- bai, and constructing one-storey bun- pering the cleanliness drive. The BMC structures that have come up in the CRZ bris. “It was a beautiful sandy beach, and CHIMBAI RESIDENT guard it, as it’s now open to encroach- galows right on the beach. contractors piled up garbage on one end area,” said Warren Falcon, whose fa- my son would go fishing on Sundays. We ments. There will be spaces (a jetty and “They violate the CRZ norms. We of the beach; it was a failure. We also ther was a fisherman. want the beach to come back to Bandra.”
TOI Interactive ‘WE SHOULD HAVE PROMPT ACTION TAKEN The entire length would be There would be a jetty and A children’s park, a AGAINST THOSE WHO MISUSE OPEN SPACES’ SAND, SHORE AND lined with walkways and a ramps for fishermen to dock playground and a few promenade, to be shaded by and repair their boats gardens have been proposed Q. Does the Chimbai beach proposal look now that builders have been preying on LONG WALKS coconut groves promising and should more such plans be Borivli national park. In fact, some two to There would be open spaces An edge wall would be built taken up to improve Mumbai’s coastline? three years back a building was built after Integration with Bandstand and an amphitheatre for to stave off encroachers chopping down some portion of the park. Chimbai beach and Carter Road is on cultural and social EMAIL [email protected] with ‘Chimbai’ in the subject line These days, I’m seeing some more BMC beautification plan the cards programmes like at Carter Space would be created for Road and Bandstand SMS Type SO
OPEN MUMBAI ‘Temple square’ Coconut groves n exhibition on how the city can expand and improve its public spaces will be Ainaugurated today at the National Gallery of Modern Art by chief minister Prithviraj Jetty & ramps Gardens Chavan. The Open Mumbai exhibition seeks to inform citizens on the amount of public Fish bazaar Walkways and promenade spaces Mumbai can have across parks, grounds, beaches, rivers, plazas, sea fronts, hills and so on. The event will continue from March 16 to April 7 from 11 am to 6 pm daily, Children’s park Beach except for Mondays and national holidays. Maps, charts, statistics and detailed proposals Map: Shailesh Warang for the future, like for beach nourishment and cycling tracks, will be displayed. Playground Boat Parking Source: P K Das & Associates
SHOWTIME AT LAND’S END Crowd pleasers along the coastline Hemant Shirodkar 10 years ago, Bandra residents lit the ‘Mumbai makeover’ torch by transforming the coastline into promenades SEA CHANGE AT BANDSTAND PAVING THE WAY AT CARTER ROAD
Before pics: P K Das & Associates Hemant Shirodkar
After
LAND’S END RESTORATION Area: 18,000 sq mt Makeover cost: Rs 90 lakh Construction period: 2002-03 Structures and restoration: Before Before Arup Sarbadhikari Before Project undertaken by: Bandra Bandstand After Residents’ Trust in n a way, it all began here he Bandra prome- After he third major proj- association with then MP — one of Mumbai’s major nade story began in ect along the Bandra Shabana Azmi and I BANDRA BANDSTAND sea bed | 1.5 km stone wall T T citizens’ initiatives to 1998-99, when local coast to be taken up Waterfront length: 1.2 km with rounded mosaic architect P. K. Das transform a neighbourhood residents had approached the CARTER RD PROMENADE Industries and others for redevelopment trans- Rs 140 lakh patterns that separates the Funding: Shabana Azmi Makeover cost: Waterfront length: 1.25km Key features: Mangroves form into a pleasant environment Construction period: 2001-02. forecourt at the water’s edge Bombay High Court to dis- formed the southern tip of MPLAD scheme and others Makeover cost: Rs 150 lakh the central point of the Carter for locals as well as visitors. Project undertaken by: and the promenade from the allow permission for a the suburb into, among oth- Construction period: 2001-02. Road promenade | Galleries Key features: Retained as a A lackadaisical civic govern- Bandra Bandstand Residents’ road | A distinct central stranded ship, the Zendong, er things, a hub for cultur- Project undertaken by: Bandra with steps at two places for historical precinct | An ment was allowing one of the Trust in association with then gallery of steps, which goes to be converted into a float- al events. The amphitheatre West Residents’ Association in culutral events | A 1.3km active public place with city’s biggest assets, its wa- MP Shabana Azmi and down to the water’s edge, for ing hotel. They argued that at Land’s End has hosted yellow wall, with rounded lighting and signage | Some terfronts, to deteriorate into architect P K Das musical programmes it would harm the environ- association with then MP many music concerts, Shabana Azmi and architect P mosaic coping demarcates dump yards and open-air toi- Funding: Shabana Azmi | Steps leading down to sand ment and the coast and ad- dance performances and landscaped spaces and K Das the forecourt | A large central lets. The Bandra Bandstand MPLAD funds and rock beds | Street versely impact the locality. stage shows, and is also the pathways | A large Key features: Beautiful black furniture for seating | A large, Funding: Shabana Azmi forum, with a gallery of steps amphitheatre and stage in Residents’ Trust along with Then MP Shabana Azmi MPLAD funds, Marico leading down to the water venue for the Celebrate then MP Shabana Azmi and rock structures that form the central garden later released money from Bandra festival the midst of palm trees for architect P K Das decided to her MPLAD funds to devel- Land’s End is a penin- hosting cultural shows and create a sea change. Age Award in 2007 for its ef- at the amphitheatre in nearby op the Carter Road and Band- worth it,” Roshan Dabhoi- get dramatically silhouetted sular strip that juts into the art exhibitions From 2001 to 2002, the wa- forts to “transform the lives Land’s End. stand promenades. wala, a trustee with Bandra against the sunset. sea. It holds a fort, which is terfront was transformed into of Mumbai’s citizens’’. Bandstand stands as an ex- The endeavour was West Residents’ Association, The mangroves, once a heritage precinct, at its what Das would later call one A decade old now, Band- ample in which a simple stroll fraught with more battles, had said in 2007. abused as a dumping ground, tip and a hill that comes be- Residents’ Trust, included of the city’s “cultural fore- stand is a popular hangout, a by the sea can be transformed but the residents’ persever- The picturesque Carter are a focal point at the Carter low the vista of the fort. At afforestation. Earlier, most courts”. The other waterfronts jogging spot, a park and a into a memorable outing ance reaped rewards. “The Road promenade is today a Road seafront. The redevel- a height of about 20 to 35 of the palm-tree lined, slop- transformed into vital public lovers’ point. While the area is thanks to the vision of a few entire exercise—from con- hotspot for many Mum- opment meanders around metres from the sea, and ing stretch had already been spaces were Land’s End, frequented every evening and locals and others. Das had ceiving the project to getting baikars seeking a laid-back them and the mangroves’ bounded by the Mahim Bay excavated and destroyed for Carter Road and Juhu beach. on weekends by those seeking said in 2007 that the aim was multiple permissions to su- evening by the sea and walk- night-lighting provides a dif- and Arabian Sea, it com- private purposes, leaving a The Mumbai Waterfront Im- an idyllic moment by the Ara- to turn our waterfronts into pervising construction to ob- ers and joggers. It also boasts ferent perspective. Residents mands a sweeping view of clutch of trees, some over- provement Centre, which was bian Sea, it also accommodates “unbarricaded public spaces taining sponsorships—has of an annual festival, an say the promenade has pro- the coast. grown ruins and untended formed later, shared the crowds every now and then that are truly open and dem- been a frustrating and time- open-air amphitheatre and tected and helped the man- The project, undertaken patches. $100,000 Deutsche Bank Urban when cultural events are held ocratic in nature’’. consuming process, but preserved mangroves that groves regenerate. by the Bandra Bandstand —Linah Baliga TIMES CITY >> Promenades, Plazas THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI | FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2012 PROMENADES & PLAZAS | BEACHES | RIVERS & NULLAHS | MANGROVES, CREEKS & WETLANDS | LAKES, PONDS & TANKS | PARKS, GARDENS, RECREATION & PLAYGROUNDS
Uma Kadam
Linah Baliga | TNN the state government’s initiative would give Mumbaikars a wel- ome June and Mum- come bayside area to escape the baikars who visit the daily grind, with a view of the ca- C Bandra-Worli sea link ble-stayed sea link to boot. Offi- for a drive will have cials said the contract has been BAYSIDE PROMENADE more options for leisure and recre- awarded to D B Realty,which will ation. A Rs 9-crore promenade is maintain the promenade for 15 expected to open on the Bandra ap- years and pay Rs 99 lakh a year to proach to the iconic bridge, giving MSRDC. While facilities will be IS SEA LINK’S LATEST FEATURE the suburb another public space free for the public, the plan allows to add to its kitty. the firm to rent out 62 plaques for The promenade along Mahim advertising. Bay will extend from the cause- Till about two years ago, the 1.5Km Green Strip Along Mahim Bay Will Have way to the sea link and aims to corporation was maintaining the cater to all age groups. It will house garden along the approach to the Bollywood Celebrity Walk, Open-Air Theatres, a jogging track, a meditation zone, sea link at Bandra Reclamation. an open-air theatre, a sundial am- But the MSRDC later decided to phitheatre, a Saptdeep Stambh (or outsource the space to a private Jogging Track, Picnic Spot And More seven columns depicting the sev- player to develop into a prome- en islands that formed Mumbai) nade. The promenade will stretch and a Bollywood celebrity walk. for approximately 1.5km and will A Bastion of Eternity, yet to be be up to 40m wide. built, will depict a fort-like struc- “The best part about this prom- ture at the sea-link end of the enade is that there are no entry promenade. fees,” said Nandakumar Gavkar, Maharashtra State Road De- executive engineer, MSRDC. velopment Corporation (MSRDC) “There will also be an eating area, officials said that seating areas like a picnic spot, where people and sit-outs are also part of the can bring food to eat.” plans. A median of the promenade, The MSRDC plans to lend a por- called the Silver Drive, will have tion to the Bandra Reclamation plants that reflect silver light. Area Volunteers Organisation If all goes according to plan, (Bravo) for cultural activities.
LEISURE BY THE BAY Key features: Jogging track | Waterfront length: 1.5km Meditation area | Open-air theatre | Makeover cost: Rs 9 crore Sundial amphitheatre | Saptdeep Expected completion date: June Stambh (seven columns depicting the 2012 seven islands that formed Mumbai | Development & maintenance: D B Bollywood celebrity walk | Bastion of Realty for 15 years, with MSRDC Eternity | Sit-outs | Silver Drive, with being paid Rs 99 lakh a year plants reflecting silver light
Open space Bandra’s ‘democratic’ seafronts exhibits give are cosmopolitan Hemant Shirodkar hope of better Linah Baliga | TNN remember singer Shaan performing city: CM and that children with bare feet came ho would think that and started dancing with him. All com- Linah Baliga | TNN the fate of a ship munities and people use such kind of called the MV Zhen spaces. These promenades are for peo- his exhibition shows us a Mumbai W Don would get tied ple from across all classes who have which we did not know existed. It has up with the quality existed cheek by jowl.” Tgiven us hope and we can implement of life in not just Bandra but all of Apart from creating public spaces some of the ideas with political will. It Mumbai? Back in the late 1990s, the for everyone, Bandra’s promenades is possible to reclaim the lost glory of the city.” ship carrying oil and sludge was have also improved the quality of life These were the words of chief minister Prithvi- grounded off Carter Road. Plans to for locals. The Celebrate Bandra festi- raj Chavan at the inauguration of the Open turn it into a floating hotel (floatel) val would not have been possible with- Mumbai exhibition at the National Gallery of drew wide protests from local residents, out the Land’s End restoration and its Modern Art (NGMA) on Friday. who moved court and won the battle amphitheatre and the Bandstand prom- The exhibition highlights the tragedy of to preserve the coastline. enade. For residents, it is a coming to- Mumbai’s shrinking open spaces and seeks to Since then, it has been more or less gether of past and present. “It has pro- generate a dialogue between citizens, the gov- smooth sailing for the Bandra West vided space for cultural activities in ernment, professionals and organizations that Residents’ Association (BWRA), which Bandra. It was like further enhancing work for social, cultural and environmental has developed and maintained the the use of that space,” says D’Monte. change. The exhibition, hosted by the Union Carter Road promenade, and the Ban- The upkeep of the promenades is ministry of culture, NGMA, the Mumbai Wa- dra Bandstand Residents’ Trust (BBRT), not easy,and the generosity of corpo- terfronts Centre and architect P K Das and As- which developed the Bandstand wa- rate sponsors and others has to be re- sociates, focuses on redefining the notion of open terfront and restored Land’s End. lied on. “We have sponsors. We spend spaces to go beyond gardens and recreational What the residents have done is nearly a lakh a month,” says Roshan grounds. It proposes the effective use of all nat- create public spaces that are not ex- Dabhoiwala of BWRA. “Rs 30,000 is ural assets, including rivers, mangroves, creeks, clusive. People from all walks of life, spent only on the gardens along the Hemant Shirodkar communities and cultures avail of promenade. Recently,we revamped the LABOURS OF LOVE: Constant upkeep and maintenance by residents have been key to preserving the beauty and lushness of these seaside havens. The promenades children’s play area. New equipment Bandra’s popular seafront promenades are “democratic”, which is the qual- has been installed — swings, slides, ity architect P K Das feels open spaces seesaws, a merry-go-round.” The spon- we wouldn’t want to make use of any in Mumbai should have. The resi- sors are now planning to put in Disney The Carter Road The promenades politician’s funds. Had we collected dents, with help from the Mumbai Wa- figures and 12 new benches. She says promenade is have quadrupled funds on our own, they wouldn’t have terfronts Centre and others, trans- private firms, the BMC, ONGC etc have like an enclave, traffic flow into been misused. So that’s a lesson we formed areas that were virtually be- all been chipping in to help. have learnt,” says Thakoor. ing used as dumping grounds. Today, The maintenance of the Bandstand which gives it its Bandra from neighbouring The extended promenade boasts joggers, walkers, senior citizens, fam- promenade is entirely managed by the special character. There are areas, because all want to use chess tables and a gazebo, which pro- ilies, evening strollers, couples, chil- BBRT. It costs Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000 a not too many places where the promenades in the vides underprivileged children a place dren and youths get to enjoy the beau- month and the residents raise the funds to study and shelter during the mon- tified shoreline. by collecting Rs 20 a month from them- women can go alone easily. evenings. Consequently, soon. Lighting is battery operated. “We Old-timers say the Carter Road selves. Corporates look after the gar- But at this promenade, they Bandra’s roads, already wanted to regularize the drying area promenade is a unique example of a dens, but security and maintenance is have forged friendships. burdened by traffic, get choked. for fishermen, but we couldn’t hold GREENING THE BIG CITY: (From left) Former MP four-corner relationship that worked completely in the residents’ hands. From a gender perspective, Also, I dislike that a good clean talks with them,” says Thakoor. Shabana Azmi and chief minister Prithviraj with no help from the BMC or the state. The BWRA manages the Carter Das, who designed the major prom- Chavan with architect P K Das, who on Thursday It was a partnership between citizens, Road promenade from Otter’s Club to it is important, as the open space like the Carter Road enades, says, “People of all classes in- described proposals for expanding Mumbai’s an MP,design professionals and a com- the amphitheatre, but a motley band promenade allows promenade is used for termingle and share the spaces equal- public spaces at the launch of the Open Mumbai mercial agency. of residents formed the Khar-Bandra- women to music performances ly.This has contributed enormously to exhibition at the National Gallery of Modern Art The promenade opened in January Santacruz (KBS) Foundation in 2009 to congregate in the community life of the area and 2002 and recently completed a decade. extend the promenade to Khar Danda and plays. I prefer if their cultural and social life as well. ponds, wetlands and beaches. BWRA chairperson Darryl D’Monte (another 150 metres). Apart from be- public that is done in For example, slumdwellers, fisher-folk, “Mumbai’s Development Plan (DP) will be notes, “Unlike many other open spaces, ing a recreational centre, “it’s a great auditoriums women, children and senior citizens finalized in a couple of years. We can integrate this one is far more democratic. It does- boon to people in the area”, says Anan- — Darryl D’Monte | share the space and it has been a great some of the grand ideas here into the next DP, n’t bar people by imposing entrance dini Thakoor,former chairperson, KBS CHAIRPERSON, — Anil Joseph | social equalizer and truly a democrat- which would be great for the city,”said Chavan. fees or have any other form of re- Foundation. “It was a challenging job, BANDRA WEST RESIDENTS CHAIRPERSON, PERRY ROAD ic space. That’s the hallmark of these Among others present were BMC chief Sub- straint. It’s much more inclusive than because we took funds from politicians ASSOCIATION RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION promenades which are not barricad- odh Kumar,police commissioner Arup Patnaik, any other development.” He adds, “I to the tune of Rs 45 lakh. In the future, ed and open.” principal secretary to the CM Ashish Kumar Singh, principal secretary (housing) Gautam Interactive ‘IF SUCCESSFUL, THE MODEL TO REVAMP CHIMBAI BEACH SHOULD BE REPLICATED AT ALL BEACH FRONTS IN THE CITY’ Chatterjee, nominated Rajya Sabha member TOI Javed Akhtar and actor Shaban Azmi. Azmi, who earlier as MP gave funds to de- We asked readers if the Chimbai Coastal Regulation Zone norms. same goes for the promenades at the with the beautification, attempts Q. The Bandra promenades were built on velop promenades, said, “This exhibition rede- beach revamp proposal looks Mumbai’s coastline is too precious to Carter Road and Bandstand areas. — should be made to maintain neglected lands that were being misused, fines land use and development and puts people promising and whether more such fall prey to illegal construction and Anthony cleanliness and punish those who at the centre of development, not just real es- including as dumps. Should more Mumbaikars plans should be taken up to improve garbage dumping. — Vijay Mullaji flout norms. On-the-spot fines, to some extent, would help restrict the tate developers. What it does is open up demo- embark on similar initiatives to develop Mumbai’s quaint fishing villages es, I fully endorse the e live in this neighbourhood and nuisance and generate funds for the cratic spaces where people become the centre. recreational areas for people from all walks of life? and coastline? Wthis is something we’ve been Yimprovement of Mumbai`s future maintenance and development It’s crucial to generate a dialogue…. It is essen- hoping for. — Jyothi coastline. — S Mukherjee of the beach. — Sugandhi Ramani tial that people claim ownership of open spaces.” EMAIL [email protected] with ‘Traffic’ es, the Chimbai beach proposal in the subject line Ydoes look promising and we need She said Akhtar would use Rs 28 crore in Juhu. Chavan said, “Mumbai’s population has seen more such plans to improve Mumbai’s o, originality has its own natural es, we need more such plans for SMS Type SO
TIMES CITY Promenades, Plazas | >> THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2012 PROMENADES & PLAZAS | BEACHES | RIVERS & NULLAHS | MANGROVES, CREEKS & WETLANDS | LAKES, PONDS & TANKS | PARKS, GARDENS, RECREATION & PLAYGROUNDS
Shriram Vernekar There are The State Govt Announced Grand Plans To Revamp The Marine Drive Promenade, But So Far Has projects 2006 Delivered Only A Characterless Waterfront. The All-Important Phase II Remains In Cold Storage being Pics: Uma Kadam thought of that would mar the serenity of the area. For example, if the Shivaji statue comes up, the promenade would become a commercial hub with a huge increase in tourists flowing in. The hawkers, cleanliness and security would then become major issues Chandresh Shah, PRESIDENT, MARINE DRIVE RESIDENTS’ Chittaranjan Tembhekar | TNN ASSOCIATION
he difference is stark. It ini- In the first phase, we tially took Rs 1.4 crore and Rs 1.5 crore to develop the (residents) did some T Bandra Bandstand and changes. Now six years Carter Road promenades, have passed. Certain respectively. Meanwhile, it took Rs 27 crore to beautify Marine Drive. A glance 2012 portions of the Drive at at these promenades reveals an anti- Nariman Point have septic, mainly tiled stretch at Marine become a hawkers’ zone. I Drive, while lively, greened walkways wind along the Bandra coast. think the time has come Officials of the government-run for the government to take MMRDA insist that redeveloping the 3- initiative. There are km downtown promenade isn’t the same as revamping the 1.2-km and 1.25- absolutely no open spaces km neighbourly stretches in Bandra, between D Road, where I but residents and experts say the icon- live, and Marine Lines ic south Mumbai stretch has been giv- station. There used to be en a colourless facelift. Architect P K COSMETIC IMPROVEMENT: The Marine Drive makeover lacks soul, feel many experts. This could have been avoided if residents were a bigger part of the project. Seen below are artist Das, who worked on the Bandra proj- sketches of what the promenade was expected to look like. (Top left) A view of the stretch while work was in progress open spaces when we ects, says the MMRDA needed to involve were children, but they local residents more to give the work life and colour. have been converted into There is an agreement that Phase II stadiums. The other of the revamp would help reflect the gymkhanas and spaces character and life of the area, but no concrete steps have been taken to im- are booked all plement it. Ratan Batliboi, architect for the time for the completed Phase I, says, “The best LIFELESS FACELIFT marriage part of the makeover was Phase II, but I have no idea when it will take shape.” parties Phase II involves Art Deco restoration, Anil Bhatia, HONORARY an eco-walk, subways, amphitheatres, SECRETARY, MARINE sunset point, underground parking, FOR QUEEN’S NECKLACE DRIVE COUNCIL viewing decks, etc. Residents remember a time when they had their own plan to revamp the Why is the state promenade, but the government stepped PROMISES, PROMISES... government linking the in with the grand Rs 127-crore plan, of Marine Drive makeover which only 21% (Rs 27 crore of Phase What’s second phase I) has been implemented. Phase I main- project to the Nariman ly involved creating a tiled footpath, Point makeover? We have some bus shelters and plant beds. The status? ask residents Rs 100-crore Phase II has now been been hearing about the clubbed with the Nariman Point and Chittaranjan Tembhekar | TNN a commercial hub with a huge in- latter for ages and it CST makeovers, which are unlikely to crease in tourists flowing in. The remains just a dream on see the light of day in the near future.. ven as Marine Drive residents hawkers, cleanliness and security paper. Marine Drive has a A Marine Drive Council, compris- E want a say in the second and would then become major issues,” ing 13 different resident associations, more elaborate phase of the said Shah. separate character and was formed, but the residents are ig- stretch’s beautification, they con- Anil Bhatia, former hockey play- life of its own and its nored even today, says Nayana Kath- tinue to have “absolutely now clue” er and honorary secretary of the palia, Marine Drive resident and co- about the project’s current status. Marine Drive Council, a unified needs are different from convenor of NGO CitiSpace. “The res- Chandresh Shah, president, Ma- body of all the 13 residents associ- those of other areas. I idents are stakeholders of the project. rine Drive Residents’ Association, ations, said the state government think the Drive should be Why is the state government linking said that just last week, they had ap- had formed the council for better the Marine Drive makeover to the Na- pealed to the BMC officials to take coordination. “There are absolute treated separately, being DREAM ON: When the Marine Drive makeover was first announced in 2005, the MMRDA was supposed to residents into confidence if and when no open spaces between D Road, as it is close to TIMES IMPACT: P 11 deliver pockets of green patches at Chowpatty, a fountain with seawater, sleek street furniture, a viewing they plan to start work on the Rs 100- where I live, and Marine Lines sta- residents’ lift in the Air India building and memorial parks with statues. Mumbai is still waiting for all this crore project. tion. There used to be open spaces “There has been no initiative or when we were children but these hearts and not communication on this front from have been converted into stadiums. a lifeless entity the BMC authorities since the past The other gymkhanas and spaces Nayana Kathpalia, two and half years,” he said. are booked all the time for marriage 21% OF WORK DONE RESIDENT OF MARINE DRIVE When the first phase had kicked parties,” he said. Girgaum residents AND CO-CONVENOR off, residents had raised objections such as Amit Matondkar point to OF NGO CITISPACE FIRST PHASE SECOND PHASE to a plan to reduce the footpath’s the lack of parking space, subways, (COMPLETE) (YET TO BEGIN) size and create parking lots. They toilets and other amenities. had later protested and stopped Ratan Batliboi, the architect who A policy decision was riman Point makeover? We have been Area covered: NCPA at Nariman Point to Estimated cost: `100 crore work, and got the MMRDA to alter designed the Marine Drive taken a few years ago hearing about the latter for ages and it Girgaum Chowpatty the plans. “We had got it rectified makeover,said the project’s second Nariman Point breakwater promontory: It remains a dream on paper,”says Kath- last time. We hope this time, the phase would beautify the stretch that the second phase of Total length: 3km will extend 280 meters into palia. “Marine Drive has a separate BMC does not repeat the mistake. the most. “I have absolutely no clue the sea, culminating in a the Marine Drive revamp character and life of its own and its Estimated cost: `30 crore It is really upsetting that by the time about what the administration is stepped amphitheatre should be handled by the needs are different from those of oth- Actual cost: `27 crore, the second phase starts, the first doing. There was never ever any er areas.” When Phase I started with- because Churchgate vista, State capital complex: would have become very old.” controversy over the project. Actu- BMC. Hence, the local out the residents’ knowledge, they Parsi Gate and eco-walk were Approximately 7 acres Shah also said that the proposed ally,by now,they should have start- residents who want to stopped work and petitioned the MM- shifted to Phase II of hard and soft Shivaji statue and memorial in the ed the implementation.” know about pending RDA to get their suggestions noted. landscaping will be a sea off Marine Drive would attract A former member of the herit- Sea wall: Cost: `4.94 cr | “People know to speak about their grand forecourt to a huge crowd and, consequently, age committee said that if the work must follow up with Strengthened with concrete own area and, if involved in projects, buildings such as the hawkers and other commercial in- authorities maintain the aesthetics tetrapods, rocks and boulders. Repairs to vertical BMC authorities and not can put life into them,” says Das. “At Mantralaya and Vidhan Bhavan. High-speed terests. It may be recalled that chief of the buildings along the Marine wall and substructure damaged by waves. Minor the MMRDA Marine Drive, the Rs 27-crore tiled and low-speed traffic will be segregated to minister Prithviraj Chavan re- Drive, there would be no major hur- stretch reflects the mechanized uni- modifications with granite aid pedestrians heading to office and public cently clarified the project would dle in getting clearances for the sec- Dilip Kawathkar, formity of any government construc- West footpath: Cost `7.97 cr | Paver blocks, granite gatherings come up off Marine Drive and not ond phase. However, he said while SPOKESPERSON FOR tion. What they have done so far does- and concrete kerb stones laid Art Deco precinct: Conservation of the Worli. The state has already ap- seeking CRZ and heritage clear- THE MUMBAI METROPOLITAN REGION n’t reflect the life, mood and character East footpath: Cost `2.69 cr | Paver blocks, flower second-largest stretch of Art Deco buildings pointed Team One Architect as ances for amphitheatre or sunset DEVELOPMENT of the area. It appears like a dry foot- beds and railings installed in the world consultants for it. point, the authorities will have to path. If local people’s participation is “The promenade would become be very careful. AUTHORITY ` Subways: Planned at four major pedestrian sought, they give alternatives and bet- Service ducts: Cost 3.25 cr | RCC duct for future crossings, with entry points having ter ideas and the work reflects their de- cables or pipelines under east footpath landscaping. Will have toilets and drinking sires and aspirations. There is no men- Median: Cost `1.73 cr | Revised with concrete, Interactive water. Opera House subway will also have TOI ‘GATEWAY PLAZA HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR BETTER BEAUTIFICATION’ tion of the second phase.” including pedestrian crossovers retail space State officials say the government Cost `26 lakh | Islands with Bus shelters: Chowpatty open-air amphitheatre: Birla Q. Does the Marine Drive revamp lack he Gateway plaza has use kiosks for the intended is scrutinizing presentations made by landscaping. Sit-outs at bus-stops on west footpath architects for the Nariman Point Kreeda Kendra will become an open-air colour? Should the state consult with Tthe potential to be purpose, and maintain makeover. A few officials say that the Chowpatty: Cost `1.19 cr | Beach walkways have theatre-cum-sunset gallery. Bhelpuri- residents and immediately begin work beautified in a much these. — Hemangi Sawant dream to beautify the stretch along the paver blocks and landscaping. Not well maintained wallahs will be relocated on the ambitious Phase II of the project? superior way. I think this lines of those in Miami or Singapore Area below Princess St flyover: Cost `72 lakh | A Churchgate vista: Low-level walkway along initiative should be ‘drop-off zone’, which may remain on paper. garden with sit-out facility developed with the sea wall at the Veer Nariman Road EMAIL [email protected] with ‘Marine’ in the subject line preferably undertaken by is parallel to Government sources say the 3-km landscaping. Not well maintained intersection A stretch has a bigger promenade and re- INTACH with the help of Mahakavi Bhushan Marg Landscaping: Cost `1.96 cr | Small lawns, trees, Parsi Gate: Revamping pillars and steps SMS Type SO
First Steps Being Taken To Revitalize Coast, But Availability Of Sand, Uncertainty Of Cost & Environmental Concerns Plague Project
MITHI RIVER POURS INTO MAHIM CREEK MAHIM SHIVAJI HINDUJA PARK HOSPITAL 2 Mahim Creek, through MAYOR’S which Mithi empties into BUNGLOW Bay, was narrowed by reclamation, say activists 4 DADAR
Reclamation along 5 Bandra has led to sea CHAITYABHOOMI forcefully hitting the PWD is now testing seafront from Mahim If pilot project is sand in the Mahim to Worli, speeding up successful, PWD will seabed to check if it is erosion from beaches 8 attempt to nourish entire suitable for and sea bed, say 4-km Dadar-Prabhadevi At present, due to transporting to Dadar environmentalists stretch reclamation, sewage and Prabhadevi for 1 3 and toxins from Mithi beach nourishment collect in the Bay and 2.25-km road and promenade PRABHADEVI don’t get flushed out, MAHIM BAY from Mahim Causeway to say activists Land’s End, built on land reclaimed in the late 1990s. Environmental activists claim REBUILDING 7 this killed the ecology of Mahim Bay and Mahim Creek and the pattern of the Mithi. Government reports called for THE COAST 6 conservation not reclamation If Mahim sand passes G test, PWD will initiate After sand is deposited at Dadar beach, pilot project to GEO-TUBES filled with more sand from nourish 500 metres of Mahim would be placed 100 metres from BANDRA beach from building walls to protect shore & seabed Chaityabhoomi to G A geo-tube is made up of geo-textile mayor’s bungalow polypropylene, multi-woven fabric. It is circular, measures 20 metres in length and has five holes A G During high tide,seawater enters and R WORLI A leaves, but sand remains B Bandra-Worli Sea Link G This system was successfully used at I A INS Hamla, Marve N S E A Pics: Hemant Shirodkar
Graphic: Shailesh Warang DEBATE: IS NOURISHMENT VIABLE? IS BEACH NOURISHMENT THE ANSWER TO CHECKING SAND EROSION AT THE DADAR-PRABHADEVI BEACH? LINAH BALIGA FINDS OUT Genesis of the plan: Architect P K Das submitted a roads, gardens, hawkers’ stalls, steps, ramps and podia; beach. It would then be covered with a top layer Beach Nourishment Plan (BNP) to the BMC for a 1.2-km c) provide public conveniences, general lighting and imported from elsewhere in Maharashtra. The plan is stretch of Dadar beach (Kirti College to Hinduja security; and d) maintain cleanliness by extending part of Das’s Open Mumbai exhibition, which is on at Hospital) which was approved in 2003. Das’s BNP sewage outfalls and providing effective solid-waste NGMA till April 7. proposed to restore the beach to a vital, public space management. The Public Works Department (PWD) has begun and to check erosion. The plan: a) nourish, regenerate Sand, comprising silt from Mithi River, would be testing sand at Mahim, but PWD officials said importing Uma Kadam and expand the beach; b) redevelop existing approach dredged from Mahim Bay, washed and put on Dadar a top layer for aesthetic reasons may be too expensive. NOURISHING BEACH REVERSE RECLAMATION TO STOP DADAR EROSION IS SUSTAINABLE The MMRDA and MSRDC have Tetrapods have been placed already killed the ecology of along some parts of the coast to e had submitted a report in 2002 pre- Mahim Bay and Mahim Creek, counter the force of the waves HARD FACTS: The erosion at Dadar seaface has left practically no sand along the shores Wpared by Dr Z S Tarapore, ex-director which is an estuary of the Mithi Riv- of Central Water Power and Research Station er.The working pattern of the Mithi (CWPRS), who brought to our notice that sand has been destroyed. can be dredged from Mahim Bay.The final re- Before reclamation for the ap- port by DHI Water and Environment, Copen- proach to the sea link, the marine SANDS OF TIME hagen, was submitted in 2003, confirming this. ecosystem was full of life. Now,when We spent Rs 25 lakh, through privately mobi- it is dead, they are talking of nour- lized funds, for the study.Ironically,the PWD ishment, which isn’t the right word. and BMC are now spending the same amount It is foolish of the PWD to try and (with NIO involvement); a central As per the topography and slope, the STRIPPED FROM for the same work. beautify a dead beach. From Mahim government Neeri study in 1994-96 creek moves towards Mahim Bay Fugro Survey India Ltd and DHI Water Causeway to Bandra Land’s End a and a 1997 BNHS report for the and the Arabian Sea. Dadar,Mahim and Environment did the first deep-sea sur- length of 2.25 km and width of three- Union environment ministry. and Prabhadevi beaches were vey (bathymetric study) and wave-pattern quarter km was reclaimed. They Despite these reports, the state harmed. There was also loss of sta- study.After that, DHI did hydraulic and coastal started in 1999 and stopped in 2002 government went ahead with recla- bilization on the shore. studies, wave modelling and hydro-dynamic when residents complained. mation. As a result, sand from To make matters worse, some modelling to see the viability of beach nour- But eventually they finished Worli to Mahim was wiped agency removed thousands of trucks ishment. Now, the PWD report can formally it in patches. out because the tide was of sand from the north side of Dadar beach establish if sand can be used from Mahim Bay. The approach to the blocked from entering Mahim Bay two years ago. Nobody the sand would be dredged with a pump, laid sea link should have been Mahim Creek and start- knows where they took the sand. Linah Baliga | TNN After further investigation, we will pre- along Dadar beach and then the geo-tube tech- a bridge, but it is a road ed hitting with force else- The solution is to go to the root pare a detailed report and give it to the nology would be used. It’s only the top sand, on reclamation. It was where. At the same time, of the problem and remove the recla- n ambitious plan to restore BMC,” said Santosh Sawant, harbour en- needed for aesthetic purposes, that needs to recommended in govern- the Mithi River was mation from Mahim Causeway to the eroded Dadar beach to its gineer, PWD. be brought from outside. ment reports that there blocked from entering Land’s End and build a bridge in- former glory has been stut- It is possible that the Mahim sand is This BNP is environmentally sustainable should be in-situ conser- the Arabian Sea. The stead of a road. Sand deposition will Atering ahead, with the state found suitable, but for aesthetic reasons and supportive. It doesn’t involve civil con- vation and not reclama- Girish Raut, sandy bed present for return to its original form. Public Works Department the top layer will have to be brought from struction or construction of sea walls, which tion. There was the Paran- ENVIRONMENTAL centuries eroded. The Also, if you bring in sand from (PWD) currently testing the availability elsewhere in the state. “If we have to buy are detrimental to coastal protection. It is also jape Committee report of ACTIVIST AND flushing of Mahim Ratnagiri or Dahanu, you will de- and suitability of sand at Mahim Bay.If sand from outside, our total cost may go cost-effective. It takes less time to implement 1987, Central Institute of MAHIM RESIDENT Creek, which receives 80 prive their ecosystems. Sand isn’t a WHO CAMPAIGNED suitable, the sand would be transported up to Rs 30 crore. If it’s too expensive, we a BNP as compared to civil construction meth- Fisheries Education report AGAINST crore litres of sewage and dead material, it’s a life-form habi- to help nourish 500 metres of beach from will find another alternative. So far, this ods. Moreover,you’ll get a natural beach as a of 1992 (submitted to MM- RECLAMATION IN chemicals a day, was tat. Beach nourishment will not help Chaityabhoomi to the mayor’s bungalow. is the only solution,” said Sawant. public space at a location that was originally RDA), state Mangrove BANDRA stopped. The creek filter toxic elements and provide a If that pilot project is a success, then the The PWD has appointed a local agency, the heart of Mumbai’s central district. Committee report of 1993 turned into a toxic pond. habitat for life forms. entire 4-km stretch from Prabhadevi to Suryantak Constructions, which has a lab- The cost of replenishing lost sand is small Hinduja Hospital, Mahim, would be re- oratory that specializes in subsoil investi- when compared to the cost of repairing sea vitalized. gations, to examine the sand at Mahim. The walls. We have given a calculation for re- RECLAIMING LEADS STABILIZING SHORELINE The plans, however, are steeped in un- BMC has already allocated Rs 25 lakh for plenishing the sand every three to five years. certainty and controversy, with govern- the trial bore investigation. A boring ma- BNP is used in most parts of Europe and TO MORE PROBLEMS SHOULD BE FIRST PRIORITY ment officials saying they are unsure of chine is kept on a floating barge and drilled the United States. In India, INS Hamla (Marve), the cost of transporting top-sand to Dadar into the subsoil. It then takes samples from Dahanu beach and Vishakapatnam are ex- each nourishment is nothing but recla- orldwide there are many should be the first priority. A and some environmentalists saying the 5 to 25 m below the soil. amples of beach nourishment. This isn’t a Bmation. So, if you reclaim somewhere, Wexamples of environ- study on erosion and siltation beach is today dead because of reclama- The report will also be sent to the Cen- new science. In fact, many countries have repercussions will be felt elsewhere. Take mentally friendly beaches and should also be conducted. the tion at Bandra that should be reversed. tral Water Power and Research Station banned sea-wall construction for being envi- the case of the sea link’s approach road. Re- beach nourishment done due causes of the erosion should in Pune for the design of geo-tubes for ronmentally detrimental. Nourishment re-es- claiming the eroded area will only erode to erosion—like in Singapore, be carefully studied before go- DIGGING FOR SOLUTIONS Dadar beach. This high-volume dewa- tablishes the natural wave patterns and eco- some other beach. In Chennai, nourishment the United States and Europe. ing ahead with any beach nour- tering system helps prevent coastal ero- logical systems in which was done at Marina beach But the PWD should focus on ishment. All like-minded ex- l The Dadar-Prabhadevi beach is a 4km stretch from Worli Village to Mahim fort. sion. The 20-metre-long tubes, filled with sand is regenerated to and its repercussions what its purpose is—stabi- perts dealing with environ- It covers an area of over 50,000 sq m sand, would be placed horizontal to the protect our coast. So were felt in a fishing vil- lization of the shore, beautifi- ment and oceanography coast about 100 metres from the com- you’re bringing natu- lage that was a few cation, recreation and/or should form a think tank and l The sandy beach has eroded, with most parts rendered inaccessible pound walls of buildings. They would ral conditions back. miles away. promenades. Stabilization help plan this project. protect the beach from erosion by cur- l Properties along the beach have been rents, and also allow only water to filter exposed to high tide, so boulders have P K Das, ARCHITECT Ashok Ravat, back to sea while the sand is trapped in the & Shankar Gajbhiye, SCIENTIST IN-CHARGE, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF been dumped to halt erosion WATERFRONT SHIVAJI PARK ALM OCEANOGRAPHY, MUMBAI geo-tube. The geo-tube would become rigid RESTORATION EXPERT ACTIVIST l This affects public movement and and elliptical. It would function like a tetra- adversely affects the coast pod, reducing wave pressure during high l It is being proposed that the beach be tide. It could take three to five years for Interactive ‘WORK ON MARINE DRIVE BEAUTIFICATION’S PHASE-II MUST START’ restored as a public space and erosion Dadar beach to be restored. Our concern is TOI be checked Sawant said the beach nourishment that whatever is he Phase-I revamp of look as they have not Source: P K Das & Associates work will not be awarded to any private done should be done in Q. Will sand from Mahim help rebuild the Marine Drive was been painted since long. agency. “The protection and nourishment a synchronized manner. Dadar-Prabhadevi stretch, or do the authorities T As it stands, erosion plagues the de- of that beach will be done by the coastal di- need to look at other options? Will the beaches primarily structural and The blame may lie The right hand should know what crepit Dadar beach, which is today more vision of the PWD. Also, CWPRS in Pune dying along the bay ever be revived? enabling in nature. with the salty air. — of a garbage dump than a sandy shore. is a central government agency and has ex- the left hand is doing. They have Phase-II, estimated at Rs Mahavir Tewari Architect P K Das first gave birth to perts in waterfronts,” said Sawant. put boulders at some places and the idea of using a Beach Nourishment In Phase II, the PWD has plans to con- EMAIL [email protected] with ‘Dadar’ 100 crore, is ambitious in the subject line Plan (BNP) in Dadar, when he gave Mha- vert Dadar’s shoreline into a tourist at- tetrapods in other places. To and comprises all the he state can spend da and then the BMC a BNP in the early traction, like at Juhu and Girgaum. There overcome the high tide, some aesthetic sections of the Tas much as it wants 2000s. The PWD is today working on a Rs are plans to build a promenade or walkway SMS Type SO
Uma Kadam P K Das & Associates
PRE-REVAMP
POST-REVAMP (2006)
COAST IS CLEAR: Residents and activists fought a long, hard battle to restore Juhu beach to being a vital open space for the public. However, as the pictures at right show, the fight never ends as they have to constantly monitor the beach because of the temporary, illegal stalls that constantly crop up in violation of court orders TODAY WINNING BACK JUHU BUT BATTLE TO SAVE BEACH NEVER ENDS Uma Kadam
Clara Lewis | TNN The judges did a site visit and ordered a joint survey of the beach. In 2004, it or- JUHU REVAMP HOW THE BEACH WAS TRANSFORMED n 2006, Juhu residents won back their dered the removal of all encroachments and ’Burb thrives on much-filmed, fantasy beach from en- rehabilitation of the hawkers. It allowed a BEACH LENGTH G The plan to transform the cluttered, the Gandhi garden and so on croachers—hawkers, goons who ran food court 50 metres away, with a 10-by-10- unplanned beach focused on clearing G The Open Mumbai exhibition prostitution rackets, and even plush foot stall for each eligible hawker. 4 km I the Central Chowpatty and its proposes that the city take a cue from people power bungalows. They achieved this after However, for a year, the government did BEACH AREA encroachments and creating accesses the Juhu revamp and bring together a long court battle. But six years on, they nothing till the residents filed a contempt no- 3.1 and traffic/parking arrangements local residents, professionals and battle on to ensure the beach stays in the tice against then chief minister Vilasrao L sq m government agencies to create lively, Clara Lewis | TNN G public domain. Deshmukh, said Mada. The court also set up ACCESS ROADS It involved creating a food court, orderly open spaces. The judiciary's Citizens say the government has little a monitoring committee with every agency renovating public conveniences, help should also be sought, as it was in ts glamour quotient combined with commit- respect for public assets and court inter- associated with the beach as a member.It in- 8 building a drop-off bay, redeveloping the case of the Juhu revamp ment and persistence have helped Juhu citizens vention was the only way to save the beach. cluded the suburban collector, the addition- I notch a number of victories. Utsal Karani, a However, the government and police con- al municipal commissioner, the additional long-time resident of JVPD who has filed sev- tinue to ignore violations at Juhu, despite commissioner of police, the regional direc- VIEW TO THE FUTURE LINKING PUBLIC SPACES NEAR THE BEACH eral PILs and participated in various agitations, says court orders. Architect and activist P K Das, tor of AAI and Das as secretary. media spotlight on Juhu has helped its cause. n a unique intitiative, the inter- who had prepared the restoration plan for The hawkers, meanwhile, filed a petition | Public spaces that could “Juhu is a rich neighbourhood similar to Nepean linking of all public spaces in the MORE BREATHING ROOM the beach, mobilized citizens to file a PIL in in the Supreme Court challenging the high I be linked in the Juhu beach area Sea Road, Altamount Road, Bandra, Versova etc and 2002, saying officials had not taken the restora- court order, and advocate Shiraz Rustomji Juhu beach area is being proposed. has highly educated residents like the rest. But Juhu G G tion beyond evicting some encroachers. had to again fight for the citizens. The apex The ambitious plan would help link 2.7 lakh sq m of reserved 15,000 sq m within bus depots is also home to a large number of Bollywood celebri- public open space G 18,000 sq m along the edges Even today,illegal permissions for vari- court not only upheld the lower court’s or- the 4-km beach to existing play and ties, so it is constantly in the news,” he said. But apart G 3.1 lakh sq m of beach of large open lands ous religious functions are granted despite der, but reduced the size of the stalls to six- recreation grounds in the area, as from its celebrity status, its citizens have regularly well as proposed walking and G 41,000 sq m at the edges of G 4.9 lakh sq m of ‘misused’ court orders. Films shoots are allowed with- by-six feet. This was because it had already institutions space in mangroves raised issues of public interest. Here are a few: cycling tracks along the banks of t out the Bombay High Court-appointed mon- ruled on the size of stalls for the rest of Mum- the 4-km-long Irla nullah. With a G 17,200 sq m in G 2 lakh sq m of In the ’90s, the Juhu Tenants and Residents Asso- itoring committee’s approval. Illegal stalls bai. The hawkers, however,got legal entitle- view to making such facilities public markets ‘misused’ space along ciation had intervened in a writ petition filed by the appear every evening, and prostitution and ment to their spaces. useful to the entire suburb and its Nearly 1,000 sq nullahs and Property Owners’ Association against the standard drug peddling are still a problem. Mumbaikars regained 30 acres of beach. visitors, the open spaces would be m within slums in dumps rent provision in the Maharashtra Rent Control When Das, through the Indian National Nearly two lakh square feet reclaimed by placed near institutes, Act. The case is pending before the Supreme Court. Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, first pre- bungalow plot owners were converted into t Immediately thereafter,they filed a PIL against the residential enclaves, Existing green sented his plan for the beach’s restoration in six gardens. The 80 eligible hawkers were gaothans, koliwadas use of Transfer of Development Rights in the subur- spaces the late 1990s, it was tossed from the BMC to moved to a food court. The tents vanished and so on. Work on bs. Their reason for opposing TDR was that it endan- the Airports Authority of India to the col- and so did the temple and other businesses. the Irla banks has Proposed gered the existing buildings and the civic corporat- Andheri green spaces lector’s office to the Maharashtra Maritime The JCWG was given the responsibility of already begun. station ion had made no efforts to upgrade the infrastructu- Board. Finally, on the advice of then BMC developing and maintaining the gardens. Proposed re before allowing the TDR to be used. The high court chief Johny Joseph, Das brought together Of the six gardens, five have been devel- skywalks disallowed the use of TDR on existing buildings. Now, citizen groups, and a PIL was filed. oped; the space near Ruia Park, is yet Parle a developer has to redevelop the entire building. “If the court gives a favourable order then to be developed for want of funds. station t In October 2002, residents got together once again all the government departments will fall in The revamp was made possible to file a PIL for the restoration of Juhu beach. Existing green t citizen’s candidate line,” Das recalled Joseph advising him. Das, with MPLAD funds from then MPs space Irla Juhu residents voted for a put who had just completed the Bandra prome- Shabana Azmi and Hema Malini. SVRoad up by the Juhu Citizens’ Welfare Group in the 2007 nades’ beautification, formed the Juhu Vikas Zahida Banatwala, a member of BMC polls. They volunteered as well as paid for Manch. The plan was to restore the histori- JCWG who monitors the Gandhi Gram Cooper the winning election campaign. The ex- cal beach keeping in mind the existing real- garden, said the open spaces have helped Hospital pense: About Rs 70,000. ities, and to re-accommodate the hawkers in residents bond over morning walks, yoga Mangroves tThe residents fought ag- Encroachments have been a more efficient manner, said Das. He held sessions or just watching the sun set. Juhu ainst the usurping regular meetings with members of J106, D’Souza said that, on average, it costs cleared along Irla nullah and of a reserv- Gaothans Aerodrome the debris is now being which was later rechristened as Juhu Citi- Rs 50,000 a month to maintain two gar- removed. Cycling and ed open zens’ Welfare Group (JCWG), the Rotary Club dens. The BMC funds an annual walking tracks, central to the space by and Lion’s Club and other Advanced Local- contract for beach cleaning. inter-linking plan, have been Ronson ity Management groups. Locals monitor the Koliwada proposed along the nullah Foundation 4km stretch of SNDT Back then, the beach, said Hansel D’Souza, cleaning and, based Slums under the caretak- president of JCWG, was not visible from the on their feedback, Juhu beach er policy. Citizens for- Juhu Lane, one of 8 road as it was encroached by hawkers. Even the contract is re- Central ced the BMC to take it over accesses to the beach the wealthy,who lived in bungalows, and star newed. Chowpatty Koliwada and are now working with the hotels had taken over portions of the beach. In the Open (marked orange) Juhu Tara civic body to create a city forest. In October 2002, the citizens finally filed Mumbai exhibition cur- Road tCitizens have opposed the overground a PIL in the Bombay High Court. Vish Mada, rently on at the NGMA, Das is now ARABIAN SEA Mangroves metro rail plan. Their campaign has forced a signatory of the PIL who attended every proposing a wider plan to link the beach Existing the government to do a rethink. green hearing, recounts how they met bureaucrats to other public spaces, as well as residen- Marriott t The residents and professionals are now working to convince them about the need to restore tial areas and institutes in the suburb. A space on creating cycling and jogging tracks on both sides the beach and not oppose the PIL. The citi- major part of this plan involves revamp- of the Irla nullah. zens had submitted Das’s plan in the PIL, ing the Irla nullah’s banks and creating Graphic: t In 2007, citizens alleged abuse of discretionary Shailesh Warang traced how it had been bounced around and walking and cycling tracks along the Source: Vision Juhu, powers by the then BMC chief. They filed a PIL and demanded its implementation. stretch. This work has already begun. P K Das & Associates the court asked the BMC to review the case. The cur- rent civic chief has brought in new rules. TOI Interactive ‘FIRST REVIVE MAHIM CREEK, THEN DADAR BEACH’ Connecting the green dots When we filed the Public Q. Do you think the proposal to create a seamless Mahim Creek. See that the Interest Litigation (PIL), stretch of public spaces in Juhu — by linking the sewage currently collecting in the Clara Lewis | TNN earmarked money to develop it. reserved public space amounts beach to planned walking/cycling tracks, gardens, bay gets treated (by setting up a neighbours derided us The nullah flows along several to 21% of the total area, the liv- playgrounds and other areas — is one the authorities sewage treatment plant in the ivic activist and archi- reserved spaces. Thus, it helps ed space adds up to 79%, near- saying the government would never should take seriously and expedite? area) and is then flushed out. tect P K Das terms it as network them. A citizen walk- ly four times more. They have move anyone out. When we did it, we Second, revive the beaches along C [email protected] with re-imagining public spa- ing along the nullah can access attempted to link up these spa- EMAIL the Dadar-Prabhadevi stretch. became heroes overnight. I had retired ‘Juhu’ in the subject line ces. Two years ago, Das, under all the green spaces without be- ces, although it is not always This would already be half done the aegis of the Mumbai Wa- ing caught in traffic jams. physically possible. However, when we filed the PIL. I spent SMS Type SO
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TIMES CITY >> Rivers and Nullahs SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI | APRIL 1, 2012 PROMENADES & PLAZAS | BEACHES | RIVERS & NULLAHS | MANGROVES, CREEKS & WETLANDS | LAKES, PONDS & TANKS | PARKS, GARDENS, RECREATION & PLAYGROUNDS Mumbai’s natural assets include four rivers that, among other functions, serve as natural drains for rainwater. Years of neglect and misuse have narrowed them into stinking nullahs. Is another disaster, like 26/7, waiting to happen? We need to rescue our rivers now Uma Kadam Shriram Vernekar 2005-06
Prashant Nakwe 2012
RIVERS OF SORROW: Slums and garbage proliferate on the banks of the Poisar River, while on the opposite bank greenery has been cleared. (Top right) A view from six years ago of how the Mithi was constricted and (right) debris and garbage in the river today at Vakola
Pronoti Datta | TNN
he first time most Mumbaikars learnt of the Mithi River was after the floods Rs 790 cr later, Mithi’s bitter tale persists of July 26, 2005. The city received 944mm of rainfall in 24 hours and in National Park the floods that ensued 914 people died. Tulsi Lake Pronoti Datta | TNN under fire from activists over TThe Mithi — till then dismissed as a sludge-filled FOUR RIVERS a portion of the retaining wall. nullah that generated a powerful stench from DAHISAR RIVER Vihar Lake COURSE he Mithi River has Janak Daftary, a member of Mahim to Bandra, Kurla, Kalina and beyond — was Powai Lake now become syn- the NGO Mithi Nadi Sansad, noticed because it had overflowed. onymous with is part of a PIL against the re- Mumbai has not just one, but four rivers, a fact Gorai Creek THROUGH Mumbai’s battle taining wall. “The retaining T walls stop tidal water from many are unaware of. Besides the Mithi, there are MUMBAI against floods and filth. Fol- the Dahisar, Poisar and Oshiwara rivers, all to- MITHI RIVER lowing the 2005 floods, Mum- reaching mangroves,” he says, gether 23.8 km long and covering 15 lakh sq m. Like bai awoke to the fact that a riv- pointing out that the wall is the Mithi, the others too have been dirtied and nar- POISAR Mahim Bay er flowed in its midst, a river not a real solution. rowed to the width of nullahs by garbage and ef- RIVER that quietly over time had The Mithi River was made fluents that for years have been dumped by slums helped drain rainwater every the villain following the 2005 OSHIWARA and industries on their banks. Slums themselves RIVER monsoon season. But over the deluge, becoming widely encroach onto riverbanks. years, the city also en- blamed for overflowing and As the floods showed, this can have disastrous croached on the natural asset, causing mayhem in the sub- consequences. The rivers fulfill a vital function in Versova Creek Bombay choking it with construction urbs. The blame, however,was Harbour the city’s drainage system – discharging excess ARABIAN SEA and filth, till it swelled and misplaced. State and civic au- rainwater into the sea during the monsoon. Clog- flooded the suburbs. thorities have for years ig- ging the rivers inhibits the flow of water, result- After the flood, efforts to nored the sewage and efflu- ing in floods. dredge and widen the Mithi ents that pour into the river “You have river flow and you have flood plains,” ALL OF THE CITY’S RIVERS Shailesh Warang began in earnest. However,six from industries and slums and the successive alterations says Janak Daftary, a member of Mithi Nadi Back Bay years and Rs 790 crore later, Sansad, an organization that serves as a river ORIGINATE IN THE VERDANT the battle isn’t over and ac- to its course. All this severe- watchdog. “This is something that is sacrosanct.” NATIONAL PARK AND EMPTY tivists say only small victories ly reduced the Mithi’s carry- Daftary says that one of the reasons the Mithi flood- INTO THE ARABIAN SEA have been won. Many stretch- ing capacity. ed was that its catchment area – Powai Hills – was es are still clogged with filth. The Mithi originates in the concretized by construction projects. The Brihanmumbai Mu- Sanjay Gandhi National Park “Everyone says the Mithi overflowed,” Daftary nicipal Corporation (BMC) (SGNP) mainly from the over- says. “It didn’t overflow. The water which used to FLOW CHART TRACKING THE MITHI and state-run Mumbai Met- flow of the Vihar Lake. Ac- percolate in Powai Hills for around six months ropolitan Region Development cording to the Chitale Com- River Location Area (sq m) Catchment area: 7,295 hectares rushed down in six hours.” Mithi Vihar Lake, 10 L Authority (MMRDA) took on mittee report, which exam- Rivers also sustain ecosystems. The Mithi, for Length: 17.84km the task to dredge the Mithi ined the causes for the 2005 instance, is flanked by mangroves that provide a Aarey Colony, Powai, in order to deepen and widen flood, the Mithi’s catchment Saki Naka, Kurla, Course: Borivli national park to Mahim Bay habitat for a variety of birds, insects and marine Mouth: Narrowed during Bandra reclamation in it. The BMC is in charge of area (across which it collects life. Along the Mithi is the 37-acre Maharashtra Kalina, Vakola, BKC, 7.8km of the river’s length, rainwater) is 7,295 hectares. s, reclamation for BKC in s and Nature Park. The plot was a garbage dump till the Dharavi, Mahim Bay 1970 1990 while the MMRDA is respon- That’s 16% of Mumbai’s area. construction of Bandra-Worli Sea Link early 1980s. It was turned into a park by the MM- Oshiwara SGNP to Versova Creek 2.8 L sible for 6km. The river flows for 17.84 km RDA and the World Wildlife Foundation. Alterations: Has been bent at 90-degree angles in Laxman Vatkar, chief en- through SGNP,Aarey Colony, Dahisar Tulsi Lake to Manori 1.6 L The nature park, the MMRDA says, is today four places during airport extensions from 1976 gineer for the civic storm wa- Sakinaka, Sahar airport Creek home to migratory birds, more than 200 species of to 2004 ter drain department, says the (where it travels under the trees and 38 species of butterflies. municipal corporation has so runway) and Bandra-Kurla Poisar Borivli West 0.6 L On the banks: Many areas have slums and “People spend lakhs to go on a holiday to Ker- far spent Rs 475 crore on riv- Complex before emptying into industries, which dump waste and effluents into ala to enjoy the backwaters,” says Dhaval Desai, a Total 15 lakh sq m or 1.5 lakh sq km er work. This includes dredg- the Arabian Sea at Mahim. the water member of the Observer Research Foundation, Source: P K Das & Associates ing and building bridges and Some of the most polluted ar- which published a report on the Mithi in 2011. “But Most polluted areas: Kurla-Kalina and Dharavi a retaining wall. Eleven eas are in the Kurla-Kalina it could be available right here in Mumbai.” Everyone says the Mithi It’s a disaster in waiting. Clean-up: After 26/7 floods, BMC and MMRDA bridges are to be built across area and Dharavi, where tan- While the Mithi has been the centre of atten- overflowed. It didn’t The Mithi and Mahul began to dredge river to deepen and widen it. BMC the Mithi. Of these, Vatkar neries, tabelas and recycling tion since 2005, little is known about the other overflow. The water were once connected. is in charge of 7.8km; MMRDA 6km says, four are being con- units regularly dump solid rivers. All of them originate in the Sanjay Gand- which used to percolate structed. A 22-km retaining waste into the Mithi. They shared the same Amount spent so far on restoration: `475 crore hi National Park. The Poisar runs largely through in Powai Hills for around wall has been planned, of Over the years, the Mithi’s (BMC), `315 crore (MMRDA) course has been narrowed Kandivli. The Dahisar begins at Tulsi Lake and, six months rushed down flood plain. The Mahul which 8 km has been built. after crossing the Western Express Highway,flows has also been narrowed RESTORATION AGENDA: Removal of silt and The remaining will be built, and altered by successive through Dahisar (West), eventually meeting the in six hours widening | Dredging | 11 bridges are to be built Vatkar says, after the MMR- reclamations and diversions. Manori Creek. The Oshiwara, like the Poisar, ends Janak Daftary | down across the Mithi, of which four are being built | A DA removes 1,500 illegal struc- The mouth of the river was at Versova Creek. Both rivers run through dense MITHI NADI SANSAD Gautam Kirtane | 22km retaining wall has been planned, of which tures along the riverbank. narrowed by reclamation in mangrove territory. OBSERVER RESEARCH FOUNDATION 8km has been built D U Gajbhiye, a superin- Bandra in the 1970s, recla- A survey carried out by the NGO Conservation tending engineer with MMR- mation of 318 hectares for the Action Trust after the 2005 flood pointed out that TOI Interactive ‘WE MUST CLEARLY DEMARCATE BOUNDARIES OF OUR BEACHES’ DA, says the agency has so far BKC in the 1990s and con- the Dahisar and Poisar rivers, as well as suburban spent Rs 315 crore on Mithi struction of the Bandra-Wor- nullahs, were as ill-treated as the Mithi. Slum Q. How important do you think are es, beaches are our wrath and votes of mortals.— River work. The removal of li Sea Link. An ORF report colonies and buildings had encroached on the precious natural assets. Mukund Kumar silt and widening of the riv- says that the reclamations re- riverbeds. This as well as the dumping of waste rivers to Mumbai and what measures Y er is nearly complete, he says. duced the mudflats around We should really protect has severely narrowed the river channels. Laxman should the BMC and state government e can get world-class However, aside from say- Mahim Creek from 4.47 sq km Vatkar, chief engineer of the BMC storm water them. — Mihir Pandya ing work is far from over, ac- in 1966 to 1.5 sq km in 2005. drains department, says that both the Dahisar and take to protect and transform them? W beaches in Mumbai, tivists say that dredging is Before the flood, the airport Poisar are currently being desilted. How can citizens and conservation y simply demarcating the provided they are properly only a temporary solution. runway was extended. During Gautam Kirtane, a member of Observer Re- groups also help in this endeavour? boundaries of beaches or demarcated in the “With the kind of effluents the construction, the Mithi was search Foundation and chief author of the or- B that are being dumped in the bent at a 90-degree angle, re- including them in the Development Plan. However, ganisation’s report on the Mithi, says the next ma- EMAIL [email protected] with river,it’s going to fill up before stricting its flow.According to jor flood will involve the Mahul Creek on the city’s ‘Rivers’ in the subject line Development Plan, nothing is BMC officials lack aesthetic you can bat an eyelid,” says the ORF report, the Mithi was eastern coast. “It’s a disaster in waiting,” says Kir- going to change in Mumbai, sense. Hence, people of the Dhaval Desai of the Observer bent at 90-degree angles in four SMS Type SO
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Prashant Nakwe Call for Mumbaikars to join fight to FLOW CHART RIVERS Area Area of proposed River plus devpt restore the city’s rivers and nullahs and (sq m) devpt (sq m) (sq m) Mithi 10 L 10.8 L 20.8 L for the BMC to reserve space for public Oshiwara 2.8 L 4.3 L 7.1 L Dahisar 1.6 L 6.6 L 8.2 L use on either side of the channels Poisar 0.6 L 2.7 L 3.3 L TOTAL 15 L 24.4 L 39.4 L NULLAHS Area Area of proposed River plus devpt (sq m) devpt (sq m) (sq m) Irla 1.5 L 1.7 L 3.2 L WE CAN Kurla 2.5 L 1.6 L 4.1 L Mahalaxmi 0.3 L 0.4 L 0.7 L BKC 1 L 1.2 L 2.2 L Govandi 1.1 L 0.9 L 2 L Chembur 0.3 L 0.4 L 0.7 L Ghatkopar 0.7 L 0.1 L 0.8 L HELP FLOAT Jogeshwari 0.8 L 0.6 L 1.4 L Oshiwara 0.4 L 0.7 L 1.1 L Vikhroli 0.6 L 0.3 L 0.9 L Mulund 0.3 L 1 L 1.3 L Kandivli 1.7 L 2.1 L 3.8 L HOPE Borivli 0.6 L 0.8 L 1.4 L Bhandup 4.3 L 1.1 L 5.4 L FOR Aarey 1.5 L 1.6 L 3.1 L Prabhadevi 0.1 L 0.4 L 0.5 L Dadar 0.3 L 0.6 L 0.9 L RIVERS TOTAL 18 L 15.5 L 33.5 L Define, reserve, beautify Open Mumbai's proposals to conserve and improve Pronoti Datta | TNN reserved for public along the banks of 17 nullahs, 15.6 lakh sq m of rivers and nullahs: G umbai needs to grow space could be created. Define river boundaries in the Development Plan G close to its rivers, Efforts to reclaim rivers and Reserve 30 metres on both sides of rivers as with citizens being clean up nullahs are already on at compulsory public open space G able to interact and some locations. Since the devas- Reserve a minimum of six metres on both sides of M nullahs as compulsory public open space relax on the banks of tating floods of 2006, Mithi’s dredg- G these natural assets. This is the ing and desilting has been a work Limit construction to public conveniences, like toilets, dream of conservationists. But, in progress. The revival of the Irla drinking water fountains & security/assistance booths G looking at our four rivers today — nullah is another example of com- Permit landscape development to paving, walkways, the Mithi, Oshiwara, Dahisar and munity-driven development and in- plantations, seats, lighting, signs, drains, cantilever Poisar — it wouldn’t be amiss to say tegration. TOI presented the Irla decks, railings and retaining walls with porosity this dream will remain just that. example in the March 24 edition. This city has mistreated its riv- Juhu’s residents got encroach- Greening the Grey ers, reducing them to little more ments around the nullah removed pen Mumbai has proposed developing leisure areas than nullahs along vast stretches. four years ago and procured fund- Oalong Mumbai’s rivers, so that the public can get The four rivers have been narrowed ing for the plan from the BMC. The some space to relax in neighbourhoods and other and dirtied by slums and factories project, designed by architect P K pockets. Below is a graphic impression from Open that line their banks. Garbage and Das, envisions cycling and walking Mumbai of how the banks of the Mithi in the BKC area effluents flow freely in the water. tracks along the nullah and con- could be transformed, so that the river is protected Activists say the rivers’ restora- necting the stretch to neighbour- from encroachment and littering, the mangroves are tion, which is key to protecting the hoods and other public spaces, in- conserved and people have greened, public zones ecosystem and mangroves, will not cluding the beach. within which to relax and unwind. become a reality unless citizens get Ashoke Pandit, filmmaker and involved because, after all, it is the resident of Juhu who is involved Mangroves Landscaping citizens who have to first feel pride in the Irla project, says that before Landscaping Boardwalk in their natural assets and also use the monsoon, residents intend to MITHI Bridge, promenade them to improve their quality of life. plant 2,000 trees to replace the ones RIVER Bridge Janak Daftary,a member of the cut by authorities. He adds that the Mithi Nadi Sansad, says that edu- BMC is currently cleaning the nul- cating even children about the im- lah and constructing walls along Pathways portance of Mumbai's water bod- its banks. “It’s the citizens’ active RIVER OF DIRT: While retaining walls have been built along the Vakola nullah, an offshoot of the Mithi River, they haven’t managed to keep the water free from lined with CHUNNABHATTI ies is crucial. “If people feel the riv- participation that encourages the greenery BKC er is part of them, it will ensure system to work,” Pandit says. “For the filth dumped into the channel sustenance,” he says. “There has instance, we saw a builder cover- to be a sense of belonging. It has to ing the nullah five days ago. With- COURSING THROUGH THE WORLD begin in the child’s mind. You have in ten minutes, there were 50 citi- Promenade to allow children to interact with zens questioning the builder. Sev- Boardwalk local rivers. Once that happens, the en to eight members of the BMC Birds, fish at home in Seoul TOWARDS Graphic: Shailesh kid might turn to river protection came to question the builder.” The Cheonggyecheon stream in the South Korean capital has been MAHIM Warang BAY when he or she grows up.” Dhaval Desai of the Observer popular with locals and tourists ever since it was opened to the public in Landscaping Activists add that authorities Research Foundation (ORF) says 2005 after a major overhaul. In the early 1950s, after the Korean War, migrants
are also ignoring the most imme- that even slumdwellers living settled along the stream in shanties. The river became a dump for the settlements and, in Source: P K Das & Associates diate and critical function of rivers along the banks of rivers and nul- 1958, was covered with concrete. A highway was built over it in 1976. In 2003, the mayor of Mangroves — natural channels for rainwater lahs must be roped in to restore Seoul decided to restore the stream. One of the successes of the projects is the restoration Uma Kadam drainage and flood control. and beautify the channels. Ideal- of a natural habitat that attracts birds and fish. However, the project has also been The Open Mumbai exhibition, ly, the slums that pollute rivers criticized for being too expensive and not entirely beneficial for the city’s ecology. currently on at the NGMA, suggests should be removed. But that’s dif- that the city’s Development Plan ficult given the “thick nexus be- include data about the city’s rivers tween the authority operating and nullahs, and that these chan- there and local politicians and nels be then restored, beautified slumdwellers”, he says. Instead, and integrated with neighbour- Desai suggests that the govern- hoods and other public spaces. ment provide garbage collection Riverfronts have the potential to be and sewage treatment facilities to beautified spaces where the public communities along the river. Daf- can relax and unwind, adding to tary says, “One way to clean rivers quality of life. Developing river- is to use biotechnology. Current sides would help protect the chan- sewage treatment plants use in- Olympic makeover nel and opens up the possibility of organic technology that release a Seine back from Sewer to sanctuary creating vegetation and tracks for cocktail of inorganic materials, in Barcelona walking and cycling. like nitrates, carbons and heavy the brink in New York The suggestion is that 30 metres metals, into the water.” Treated as a drain till the mid-1990s, Besos At the start of the 1960s, the Seine on each side of the rivers’ banks be Desai says the ORF is working was known as one of Europe’s most polluted was considered a dying river. The The Bronx River was treated as a sewer reserved as compulsory open space. on a plan to get Mumbaikars to en- rivers. As a reaction to a flash flood in 1962, water demands of the numerous for most of the last century. It was a Around 10.8 lakh sq m of space gage with the Maharashtra Na- city authorities had concrete walls built on industries along its banks had dump for heavy industries along its along the Mithi could then be de- ture Park in Mahim. The 37-acre either side. Industries that came up along severely strained it. And effluents banks as well as local residents. In the veloped. The Oshiwara River could park is a patch of mangroves sus- the banks dumped waste and effluents into from farms and industries had 1990s, community groups and local see 4.3 lakh sq m of development tained by the Mithi. “Thousands the river. The 1992 Olympics, which took damaged its marine life. From 1968, politicians collaborated in a plan to along its banks. The Dahisar and walk in the park, hardly realizing place in the city, spurred the government to the Seine-Normandy Water Agency revive it and, in 1993, $30 million was Poisar rivers could see similar de- what’s on the other side of the turn Barcelona into a financial and tourist began rehabilitating the river by sanctioned for its restoration. The velopment and beautification. In road,” he says. “We are studying centre. Besos was cleaned up and managing its water, reducing water was cleaned up, fish were REWIND, NO FAST FORWARD: How the Mithi appeared all, 24.4 lakh sq m of riversides how to make it one of the best integrated into the landscape of the city. pollution by setting up wastewater reintroduced and parks were created. in the Bandra-Kurla Complex area in 2010 when the would be beautified for public use. maintained parks, comparable to This was done by building parks, walking treatment plants and restoring The river and its banks now draw cleaning and beautification was in progress. Much Similarly,if six metres of space is any in the world.” tracks and cycling paths along the river. wetlands. walkers, cyclists and canoeists. of the work still remains to be done
We have to It’s the citizens’ active TOI Interactive ‘GOVT NEEDS TO PUT UP PROPOSALS WITH TRANSPARENCY’ stop looking at participation that encourages After leaving park, the system to work. For We asked readers how important Today’s question: Do you think it is possible to lakes and the city’s rivers are to Mumbai and rivers individually. instance, we saw a builder transform Mumbai’s riverbanks into public the measures the BMC, state, spaces with walkways and gardens so that covering the nullah five days citizens and conservation groups Mumbai must be a people can relax and unwind in greened zones? rivers get polluted seamless city. Make the ago. Within 10 minutes, there should take to protect and transform them. Here are were 50 citizens [email protected] with Pronoti Datta | TNN leaves that fall from trees. If these Mithi River a public-use some replies: EMAIL ‘Riverbank’ in the subject line are not removed, they become muck. destination. questioning the ll of Mumbai’s four major Yet the river is as clean as it can be This will help builder. Seven to ith reference to your SMS Type SO
Uma Kadam Sukhada Tatke | TNN group here could not sustain Protected by Law the struggle. “Two religious ver the years, Mangrove Panels structures have been built Mumbai’s man- The state’s mangrove The police and forest right on the creek. These were groves—the frag- committees for the suburbs department can act against a bone of contention along ile buffer be- will include: Nominee of mangrove destroyers under with some constructions O residents’ groups | BMC the Maharashtra Tree Felling tween land and planned behind them. The big sea—have been destroyed by town-planning official | Act and Environment loss was a large plot opposite,” builders, encroachers and Official of deputy collector Protection Act. The Bombay says Aggarwal. even government agencies. rank | Senior inspector or High Court halted mangrove Destruction happens in two Meanwhile, vigilant citizens assistant commissioner of destruction in 2005 and ways: Mangroves are either and environmentalists have police | MPCB official | banned construction within cut or they are subject to ille- fought an unending battle to Collector (committee head) 50 metres of them. gal dumping. Because of the protect them, along with help subtle ways in which this can from the courts. of the fight to save mangroves harashtra Felling of Trees Reg- be accomplished, mangrove de- The Open Mumbai exhibi- back to 1983. Then, these frag- ulation Act, 1964. “Mangroves struction is a perfect land-grab tion, currently on at the ile green patches were treat- were included in this schedule strategy. In most cases, NGMA, estimates there are ed as mere wastelands along on January 28, 1987,” says kachcha roads are first laid about 61.7 sq km of mangroves the coast. The government Goenka. For the first time in deep within mangrove areas. hugging the coast, creeks and had little idea about their im- the state, destroying man- These roads, made of debris, rivers on private and govern- portance as natural buffers groves required the revenue block inter-tidal waters and ment land in the city.They pro- between land and sea. Envi- department’s go-ahead. gradually choke the coastal vide protection from sea waves ronmentalist Debi Goenka, ex- Then, environmentalists ecosystem on which man- and give Mumbai a natural ecutive trustee of Conserva- insisted that mangroves be in- groves depend. Once the land draining system for rainwater. tion Action Trust, took up the cluded in the Coastal Regula- becomes barren, slumlords The government recently issue in the 1980s. “I realized tion Zone-I (CRZ-1) notifica- build shacks and rent them gave a much-needed fillip to that the state assumed that tion. When the notification out. In years to come, larger the battle to save mangroves, mangroves could be destroyed was finally issued in 1991, structures could replace the forming mangrove committees at will. Land was being sys- mangroves were in CRZ-1. shanties. in the suburbs to protect the tematically reclaimed for ur- Since then, various pockets In Charkop, about 140 acres natural asset (see box). How- banization, industrialization, of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai of mangroves adjoining ever,Open Mumbai’s organiz- paddy cultivation and so on,” and Thane have seen resi- Manori creek have been al- ers call for the inclusion of says Goenka. dents and activists waging legedly under threat for years. mangroves in the city’s De- In 1986, environmentalists battles to save the green lungs Dumping took place to facili- velopment Plan, saying this lobbied with the Maharashtra in their backyard. tate the construction of illegal would give a major boost to revenue department to include In the mid-1990s, a strong residential and commercial protection. mangroves in the Schedule of grassroots movement in the structures. In some cases, man- One can trace the genesis Trees protected under the Ma- Versova-Seven Bungalows groves were allegedly also be- area drew attention to the dan- ing set ablaze. “Although the gers posed to 100 acres of man- BMC and the collectorate have MAPPING THE MANGROVES groves adjacent to Versova been demolishing the illegal beach. “This has been one of constructions regularly, they Mangroves NDZ Wetlands on the success stories, though the keep coming up,” says activist encroached slums on the beach at Shanti Reji Abraham. Wetlands/ Encroached NDZ Mangroves NDZ Kutir remain and there is some In Dahisar,members of the amount of methi cultivation New Link Residents’ Forum, Nat’l Park, Wetlands on along the beach,” says envi- have been fighting for two Thane encroached NDZ ronmentalist Rishi Aggarwal, years to save a verdant stretch who was at the forefront of the from being taken over by a MULUND NATIONAL PARK No Development struggle. Subsequently,in the builder. Taking note of their NATURE SQUEEZED: Slums encroach into the mangroves that run alongside the river in Malad-Kandivli Zone (NDZ) early 2000s, the movement struggle, the Bombay High that empties into Malad Creek. This absorption zone for rainwater is under threat Encroached NDZ picked up in Lokhandwala and Court last year ordered that led to bigger victories. Kandivli-based Ravi Develop- But there were losses too. ers be fined Rs 1.24 crore for VIHAR LAKE NDZ CHEMBUR “Lokhandwala Complex has destruction of mangroves. two distinctly large Mangroves are also lost to Locals go green: Some Mangroves MANORI CREEK mangrove patches. development and government Mangroves One, measuring agencies, alleges Goenka. BOMBAY 500 acres behind “Whether it is for a metro car Wetlands/ WORLI HARBOUR Millat Nagar,is now shed at Vikhroli, a dumping battles won, others lost MALAD CREEK Mangroves already lost to builders,” ground at Kanjurmarg or the ARABIAN SEA laments Aggarwal. Navi Mumbai airport, agen- A strong movement also de- cies that should have been pro- veloped in Goregaon. It was led tecting mangroves are de- COLABA by Avisha Kulkarni and was stroying them systematically,” BACK BAY later joined by,among others, says Goenka. like actor Irrfan Khan. But the Often, there is a problem
Source: P K Das & Associates over which department’s door to knock on. However, Valsa Nair-Singh, state principal sec- MANGROVES BUFFERING THE COAST retary for environment, says Lokhandwala Developer made Facing a trashing Chemi-kill in a lot is being done to protect 617.2 CREEKS AREA (SQ M) mangroves. “To streamline the eco-warriors to pay in Dahisar in Kanjurmarg Goregaon lakh sq m OR Malad (Versova) Creek 30 L process, we are forming man- ecently, residents of ahisar residents emerged reens fought against the esidents of Bangur Nagar, grove committees comprising Creek near Mankhurd 10.1 L Lokhandwala and victorious in January 2011 G creation of a sanitary RGoregaon, noticed that a 61.72 citizens and officials at local R D sq km Oshiwara saved a verdant patch after a two-year battle, when landfill in Kanjurmarg as it was vast stretch of mangroves Creek near Mulund East 1.1 L levels,” says Nair-Singh. the Supreme Court ruled proposed on 141 hectares of was being destroyed about Architect and activist P K of mangroves. They turned eco- Creek at Sewri 0.7 L warriors by forming the against a developer. The wetlands, of which about 70 ten years ago. “The WETLANDS Das says, “Mangroves are a Oshiwara-Lokhandwala residents, with help from hectares were mangroves. mangrove stretch, not less Manori (Gorai) Creek 44.2 L natural resource. They should Bombay Environment Action After a court battle and than 50 acres, was sprinkled be protected, irrespective of Citizens’ Association to fight 80.1 Creeks near Ghatkopar 3.7 L Group, saved 400 acres of citizens’ protests, the civic with chemicals,” alleged one whether on government or pri- against “illegal” construction. lakh sq m OR The residents said around mangroves. Fifty acres had body agreed to separate the of the residents who was Creeks near Vikhroli 2 L vate land.” mangroves from the dumping part of the struggle. “The 10,000 sq m of mangroves already been destroyed. The Creeks near Mulund 0.7 L area. Environmentalist Debi mangroves died 8.01 adjacent to the creek had been developer, Jayesh Shah, had NEXT IN THE SERIES: Goenka said the civic body told subsequently. We wrote sq km TOTAL 92.5 L sq m or 9.25 sq km destroyed by continuous dumped debris and built bunds Proposal for mangroves dumping of debris. They alleged that blocked seawater from the court that the area was not letters, met officers from the this was being done to help a reaching the mangroves. The CRZ-I land and, so, work could municipal corporation, the builder construct a 21- New Link Road Residents’ go ahead. “Though work police, the state The state is storey tower on 7,741 WON Forum filed around 30 has started in the area LOST environment ministry always hell- sq m of land between complaints under the without mangroves, it and others. But we got will affect the stretch that does no response,” said the bent on State yet to notify chunk Lokhandwala bridge and Environment Protection Act. In Lokhandwala Club. Taking note the past year, five reports filed as the channel through which resident, who refused to be gifting land of their battle, Valsa Nair-Singh, by state agencies confirmed seawater flows into the named. The inevitable to builders and it state principal secretary for green violations. The Supreme wetlands has been reclaimed. followed. “After destroying doesn’t make an So the mangroves are dying the mangroves, the stretch of coast’s mangroves environment, instructed the Court ordered the developer to exception for collector, representatives of the open the bunds, remove the anyway,” he said. The BMC was filled up with debris. Hemant Shirodkar forest department and BMC debris and pay a penalty. “We says only 20.76 hectares have Later, illegal structures came mangroves. The high Sukhada Tatke | TNN officials to take action against went through many problems thick mangroves and 86.72 up. Now there are residential court gave a good order mangrove destruction. “After to win the fight. We risked our hectares are free of them. “But and commercial buildings, in 2005, saying that it n a landmark 2005 order, the order, the builder started lives by going into the areas to satellite maps show 65.96 and also a couple of religious was the collective the Bombay High Court hectares have mangroves and directed the state gov- clearing the area of equipment. take photos,” said Harish structures. Despite doing all responsibility of the I The debris will also be removed Pandey, of the forum. “The the entire area is a wetland,” we could, we couldn’t save ernment to map via satel- and the mangroves regrown,” police didn’t support us. They said Goenka. “The area falls in the mangroves in the area.” police, forest lite all mangrove areas in Ma- said resident Ashoke Pundit. took two weeks to file an FIR.” a CRZ, intertidal zone.” — Sukhada Tatke | TNN department, BMC and harashtra and notify all gov- collectorate to protect ernment-owned mangroves Interactive ‘DEVELOPING RIVERBANKS WILL LEAD TO A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP TOWARDS RIVERS’ as protected forests. Such TOI mangroves. This order lands were to be handed over is misused as each to the forest department. We asked readers if they think it is possible to transform Today’s question: Do you think the state’s plan to have agency points fingers Seven years later,the state Mumbai's riverbanks into public spaces with walkways, local-level mangrove committees will help save these at the other has managed to hand over just boardwalks and gardens so that people can relax and unwind 5,800 hectares (58 sq km) of in such greened zones. Here is one of the replies: fragile buffers between Mumbai and the sea, especially — D Stalin | NGO VANASHAKTI since each committee will have a residents’ representative? mangrove lands in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane to or any city to develop in a sustainable manner and EMAIL [email protected] with ‘Mangrove’ in the While mangroves are the forest department. By con- preserve its nature, collective citizen engagement subject line F important, we stretch trast, the Open Mumbai ex- and intervention are imperative. Developing riverbanks hibition currentl;y on in SLOW DEATH: Debris dumped along mangroves in Malad can be SMS Type SO
Sanjay Hadkar
Specialized Clinics, Integrated Approach Are Need Of The Hour, Say Doctors WALKING WITH CHRIST Vast crowds endured the heat to go on a walking ‘Families must pilgrimage along the lanes of Finding medical care a challenge for Vakola, Kalina and Santa respect dignity Cruz with a man dressed as TIMES NEWS NETWORK believed that it is natural for Christ carrying a cross. the elderly to have high blood of the aged’ Organized by the Catholic or some, getting old pressure,” said Dr Gaurang Secular Forum (CSF), this is could mean visiting Desai, who runs one of the few Pratibha Masand | TNN an annual pilgrimage on multiple doctors clinics for the elderly in the Good Friday which enacts the CITY’S last walk of Christ before he F and popping multi- city,at Hiranandani Hospital, Mumbai: Four years ago, Mar- ple pills. On Friday, Powai. “While city doctors garet Pareira (74; name was crucified. the eve of World Health Day, now know better, it is any- changed) was diagnosed with The walk starts from experts said that seeking body’s guess if the aged living dementia. After the death of her Santa Cruz and winds along chronic care could be a tedious in rural areas get anti-hyper- husband, she was on her own. the lanes till it gets to Kalina, process for senior citizens ELDERLY tensive medicines.” For a long time, she did not step with pilgrims walking along even in a city like Mumbai A problem is that only a few out of her home or receive vis- and praying. that has an elaborate health- year’s World Health Day big hospitals, such as the civic- itors. When her daughters vis- Organizer Joe Dias said, care system. theme, has asked its member A COUNTRY FOR run KEM Hospital, Parel, have ited her after a few months, they “The street stops of the countries to develop sustain- OLD PEOPLE clinics dedicated for the eld- found that she had developed pilgrimage are designed to WORLD HEALTH DAY able systems of chronic care erly. This, say doctors, is be- breathlessness owing to the lack let everyone know about the for the elderly. “These must Each figure represents cause the specialty of geri- of physical activity. suffering of Christ on the Some elderly address the chronic nature of percentage of senior citizens atrics is not popular in India. A visit to the doctor showed cross.” TNN people live problems and the coexistence unless stated otherwise. “Traditionally,people in India that Pareira’s asthma attacks here while of multiple diseases, requir- The projections are of the died because of infectious dis- had increased in frequency, a ing multiple treatments. For Union ministry of health eases. Unlike in the US, a few swelling in her foot had grown Youth’s body found their children are example, many elderly pa- and family welfare lived to be 80. Hence, geriatrics in proportion over a period of abroad. They downplay tients in high-income coun- as a specialty has not devel- time, and she had developed Good Friday lays he severed body of their symptoms or tries can be taking up to 20 Percentage of senior oped in India,” said cardiolo- medical conditions that were TMahendra Gangavne (24) avoid expensive medications at a time, often 12 citizens in the gist Dr Sudhir Vaishav. not there. “When we took her to was found on Byculla’s treatment. By the time resulting in adverse health ef- country in 2025 Experts believe that there the doctor,we found that her thy- railway tracks. The fects due to drug interactions,” is an emotional angle to poor roid levels had shot up and she stress on suffering Government Railway Police they reach the doctors, it has said. To be bedridden, chronic disease management was suffering from pulmonary said the deceased had been it is too late for an easy Furthermore, there is the requiring for the elderly.“Some elderly embolism. A blood clot had en- Ashley D’Mello | TNN Christ and its relevance to the knocked down by a train. TNN solution fear that not all elderly people 10 utmost care people live here while their tered her lung, making it very world,” he said. get access to the right treat- children are abroad. They difficult for her to breathe,” said Mumbai: Good Friday was ob- In Vasai, Fr Joe Pereira — Dr Sudhir Vaishav | CARDIOLOGIST ‘Move dump yard’ ment. WHO has, for example, downplay their symptoms or her daughter Rachel. served in the city with solem- who preaches to inmates of “Senior citizens have to go said that only 4-14% of elder- To be in rural areas, avoid expensive treatment. By Pareira was put on medica- nity, marking the day Jesus Kripa, an ashram that houses youth congress delegation to various doctors, depending ly people in low- and middle- 80 making service the time they reach the doc- tion for depression. She was ad- Christ was crucified. Special people suffering from sub- Amet CM Chavan regarding on their symptoms. They have income countries receive ef- delivery a challenge tors, it is too late for an easy mitted in hospital for a week. prayers went up for world stance abuse, called upon peo- the apathy of the Kalyan one doctor for their heart prob- fective antihypertensive treat- solution,” said Dr Vaishav. When she returned home, she peace and communal amity. ple to give up a life of materi- Dombivli Municipal lems, another for their knee ment. “Until recently, it was To be below the A senior doctor at a civic was disoriented and her limbs There were services and al addiction. “It is in giving Corporation toward moving a problem and so on. There is 30 poverty line hospital said that clinics for had become stiff. A visit to a ceremonies in Catholic, that we receive and it is in dy- dumping yard in Kalyan (W) no integrated approach,” the elderly should be held neurosurgeon revealed that she Protestant and Syrian Chris- ing that we are born to eter- to its designated area in said a doctor attached more regularly at government was suffering from dementia tian churches. The theme nal life,” he said. Umbrade village. TNN Percentage of to a south Mumbai as well as private hospitals. and medication for depression which recurred in serm- The spokesperson for the women among the hospital. “The elderly require special- had made her case worse. ons was suffering and repen- Catholic Archbishop’s house, 51 elderly in 2016 25-year-old killed In fact, the ized care. A doctor cannot al- But now, Pareira has made tance. The ceremonies Fr Anthony Charanghat, said World Health locate only five minutes to lis- many changes in her lifestyle, brought to the fore 40 days of Good Friday revolved not just hankar Tambe (25), a Organization, Population of people ten to an 80-year-old’s health said Dr Girish Nair of Fortis penance Christians observe around the ideas of suffering SKasara resident, was which has fo- above the age of 60 woes,” said Dr Desai. “Doctors Hospital, Mulund. “Society and repentance. “It also es- found murdered in a Thane cused on aging need to give them space and should respect the individuali- ‘WE BELIEVE HE’S pouses the idea of forgiveness. forest. Cops are hunting for as this 100 million | In 2013 time to listen to their story be- ty of the patient and treat him Christ forgave his killers. This two of Tambe’s friends in the fore questioning them about or her with full dignity,like any AMONG US’ love for mankind is central to murder case. TNN Mahesh Benkar 198 million | In 2030 their health.” normal human being.” Christianity,”he said. before Good Friday. Fr Charanghat added that ‘Charge toll once’ The parish priest of St it was important to “walk with 68-yr-old marathoner leads by example Stephen’s Church at Cumbal- Christ” on Good Friday.“Peo- he All-India Motor la Hill, Fr Ernest Fernandes, ple are asked to relive the TTransport Congress Pratibha Masand | TNN they should reduce physical cuts. Moreover,he had asthma said the sermons revolved agony which he underwent be- (AIMTC) has demanded a activities in their sunset years. and a history of epilepsy. around the fact that Christ fore he died on the cross. Un- nationwide, one-time toll tax Mumbai: The last Mumbai Dasadia started practicing “I had an open heart sur- died and now lives among us. derstanding this is important to save on diesel expenses Marathon had an eager par- for the marathon from June gery two years ago and had nev- “This is our faith, we believe for all Christians,” he added. and time at toll plazas. TNN ticipant—Surendra Dasadia 2011. But during his last prac- er run after my school days,” he is among us,” he said. The Good Friday services have (68), who should be a motiva- tice session, he fell on his face. he said. “I had to be hospital- Rev Victor Gollapalli of the a solemn tone with music and Jewel thieves held tion for all those who think To make matters worse, he ized a few months before that, Church of North India (CNI), singing. Friday afternoon saw was on blood thinning med- when I suffered a fit of epilep- the largest Protestant group many churches reliving the he Mira Road police have ication, which does not allow sy.I truly wanted to participate in the country, reminded his suffering of Christ on the Tarrested two thieves from blood flow to in the marathon even after I fell flock of the trials and tribu- cross, called Stations of the Rajasthan, Madanlal stop in case of down during practice.” lations of Christ on the cross Cross. People are taken along Choudhary (19) and and his suffering for mankind. a route where Christ went Modsingh Rajpurohit (30), for “All our sermons concen- with 14 stops or stations where looting jewellery showrooms trated on the suffering of they relive his suffering. in the area. TNN
CITY www.mumbaimirror.com/city MumbaiMirror MONDAY, APRIL 2, 2012 10 Filthy Irla nullah to be turned into green zone The Rs 20-crore, four-year beautification project beginning this month, will provide jogging and cycle tracks on either side and a three-layer system to keep the water clean RANA CHAKRABORTY P K DAS & ASSOCIATES Sudeshna.Chatterjee “Of the total length of 7.5 km, in the @timesgroup.com first phase, a 2.5-km will be developed. This is not just about creating tracks. ince the July 26, 2005 deluge, There will be contiguous network of the Irla nullah in Juhu has open spaces, including amphitheatres, been called many things, to enrich community spirit.” including ‘a disaster waiting With wider roads on both sides, S to happen’. Surrounded by civic workers will also have better hundreds of shanties, and often access to the nullah for its cleaning. choked because of the rubbish thrown While Mumbai has a total length of in by the slum dwellers, the nullah – 381 kilometers of rivers and drains in one of city’s major storm water drains the city, in many cases, there is little – often floods the societies in JVPD or no space along them - though it is Scheme during monsoon. The nullah as is today a must for the civic body to build six- The nullah is now set for a metre roads on either side. makeover, with jogging and cycle Rajya Sabha MP Javed Akhtar has BMC Additional Commissioner tracks on either side, the entire area pledged to extend financial assistance Aseem Gupta said, “We will look into turned into a green zone; and clean to the 4-year project – costing about Rs the success of this project. If this water in the nullah courtesy a three- 20 crore. “I support the idea to better clicks, we will beautify service roads layered auto cleaning system. The the landscape along the drain. I’ve along other major drains and rivers beautification of the nullah will begin decided to dedicate my MP Local Area across the city. We have started build- this month, based on the recommen- Development Fund for the project.” ing service roads along nullahs and dations by the Chitale Committee, Speaking to Mumbai Mirror, archi- rivers, and plan to cover 204 kms by which the state government had set tect P K Das from P K Das & Associates, 2014. We too have plans to do sewage A computer image depicting how the area will look after completion of the project up post the 2005 deluge. which has designed the project, said, treatment on these outlets.” NOTED MARATHI SCRIPTWRITER SANJAY BELOSE DIES IN ROAD MISHAP SANJAY BELOSE, NOTED MARATHI and Hindi script Marathi plays: Nagmandal and Pagla Ghoda. He won writer, actor, director died in a road accident in Mira the Natya Darpan awards for Marathi plays Kharach Road on Sunday. The 45-year-old lost control of his Mazhayasaati and Lafda Solatala. He had scripted, bike on a bridge and fell off it. acted and directed Ghar Aaiycha, Indian, Most Wanted, “The mishap occurred before the Kashmira police Ladh Bapu Ladh (all in Marathi). Recently released chowky. While cops rushed him to a private hospital, Marathi film Kai Karo Na Kasa Karo was written by him. he was declared dead before admission. Belose is Belose was a popular name in Bollywood too. He survived by his wife, daughter and a son,” said an offi- was a co-writer for Phir Hera Pheri, Khatta Meetha, cer from Kashimira police station. Malaamal Weekly and other films. His funeral was held Belose had won many Maharashtra State awards in the afternoon in Kashimira in the presence of a in drama and had acted in Vijaya Mehta's famous host of Marathi and Hindi actors and directors.
MAHARASHTRA STATE ROAD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LTD. MUMBAI (A Govt of Maharashtra Undertaking) ( Nepean Sea Road Near Priyadarshunu Park Mumbai 400 036 MSRDC PABX Tel.: 022-2369 6109, 23686112 • Fax: 022-23696110, 2368 4943 Email: msrdc@ bom3 .vsnl.net.in • Website : www .msrdc .org TENDER NOTICE FOR TOLL COLLECTION Sealed Tenders are invited by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Ltd. (MSRDC), for toll collection the following locations of toll stations for the period of 156 weeks on Whole Upiront Payment basis. Estimated Sr. Realization (ER) ! Name of Work No. Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) — —______2 3 Appointmen t tof Contractor for collection of toll at toll station at Km. Rs. 1025 Lad 336/800 Near Nakshatrawadi on Aurangabad - Paithan Road. Rs . 51.25 Lac — — Appointment of Contractor for collection of toll at toll station Near Rs. 307 Lac I 2 TUMMY TUCK AND REDUCE WEWEI GHT Lasur Village on Aurangabad - Lasur Road, SH No. 30. Rs. 15.35 Lac — — 3 Appointment of Contractor for collection of toll at toll station passing Rs. 356 Lac I With 3 months course worth for Railway Over Bridge at Parbhani Km. 99/200 on S.H. No. 217 Rs. 17.80 Lac ! OBECU0 BECU CAPSULE — — Reduce 10 to 12 kg. in just 3 months Collection of toll at toll station : Nagzari - Kharda - Karanja Road Rs. 1059 Lad 1 770// at Km. 176/540 in Amravati District Rs. 52.95 Lac The AyurvedicAyurved ic Principles of Obecu Capsule is: Collection of toll at toll station Village : Shevat i on Karanja - Rs. 1217 Lac // • Tnphala Ghan: Increases efficiency of the heart Malegaon Road of SH No.207 at Km. 18/500 in Washim District Rs. 60.85 Lac — — • Vidang Chan : Helps in Digestion 6 Appointment of Contractor for collection of toll on Sindhakhed - Rs 1069 Lad • Medohar Vidangadi Lauh: Reduce body cholesterol Jalna Road , Near Nandapur Pir Kalyan Chowk on SH. No. 177 at Rs 53 45 Lac • Punamava Ghan : Helps in reducing fat Km. 10/200 in Jatna District. • Nagarmotha Ghan & Guduchi Ghan: Helps in KeepingKeepir the body fit. 1. Period of issue of blank Tender Form From 02.04.2012 to 17.04.2012 • These Ayurvedic principles have been mixed in extractextra from. (except Government holidays) time 11.00 hrs to 16.00 hrs. 2. EMD as per column No.3 shall be deposited electronically through RTGS (RTGS Code - • For both Men & Women PROI JQ CNRB00001O8) in the name of MSRDCA/c No. 0108256705346 with Canara Bank, Branch Fort by 23.04.2012. 3. Last date of sealed tenders of submission shall be 25.04.2012 upto 13.00 hrs. during office hours. _ 4. For full details of offer please log on to MSRDC Website : www.msrdc.org. If required • Pay by: COD) Credit Card I 3EMIs* contactat Toll Monitoring Unit, M.S.R.D.C. (Ltd.), in the premises of Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link Project Office , Opp. Bandra Reclamation Bus Depot, Bandra (West), Mumbai - 400 050. 09876848888 or O9 89468888 Telefax Nos. 26412382/26414605. Sd!- Executive Engineer (TMU) MSRDC (Ltd.), Bandra (W), Mumbal - 50. Toll Monitoring Unit , M.S.R.D.C. (Ltd.), Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link Project Office, Next to Bandra Reclamation Bus Depot , Bandra (West), Mumbai-50. Telephone Nos.: 022-26412382,26414605 Exclusive news and entertainment video 8interview MARCH 25, 2012. SUNDAY MiD DAY footage on http://video.mid-day.com
PK Das, chairperson, Mumbai Waterfronts Centre, at his Prabhadevi office with a vision plan for Juhu that will be part of the exhibition. PIC/ SANTOSH NAGWEKAR
implemented — Juhu Beach, Carter The plan we have put together does about 10 years. Road, Bandra Bandstand and not displace. It does not call for Gateway of India — and our learn- major replacement of populations. A lot of work which you have done ‘A CITY IS A ings from these projects. Nearly 50 It just requires small reconfigura- exemplifies a successful marriage per cent of the envisioned plan tions in the plans of certain city of social development and archi- therefore has already been complet- pockets. At the exhibition you can tecture. If this project were ed. Part 2 of the projects is built on see a model of a similar reconfigura- sanctioned would it be your great- the strength of these learnings. The tion in the Juhu area plan we have est challenge and achievement? COLLABORATIVE second phase proposes similar sim- proposed. We do not look at projects (Laughs) I am sure that if we ple ideas that can be executed in from a top-down perspective. We achieve this it would be a great other areas. These incorporate proj- look at cities from the bottom-up, achievement for everybody in ects which are grounded in reality. where each area plan reflects the Mumbai. But it is important to identity and need of its residents. understand that a city is a collabora- ENDEAVOUR’ What is the fundamental guiding Over the years each neighbourhood tive endeavour. No one person can principle for the project? in Mumbai has developed its own consider anything in it his own per- The basis of the project is conserva- identity. Our aim is to preserve this sonal accomplishment. Amartya tion, renovation, recycling and individuality. Therefore the plan Sen once said that ‘it is public action Open Mumbai: Let’s SANJIV NAIR replanning. It is important to under- necessitates the need for personali- that influences governments’. And [email protected] stand that we are speaking of sation of neighborhoods. this is an ideology we have worked Expand Public Spaces, is integrating the project within the with for all these years. Bandra What inspired the vision plan for existing realities of the city. It is not How has the Government respond- Bandstand’s redevelopment was a a series of vision plans Open Mumbai: Let’s expand public a mega project, but a combination of ed to your vision? public initiative. It was started with- for a cleaner, greener, spaces? How long have you been small and doable projects. The They have been extremely support- out the government’s support. Over toying with the idea? attempt is to double our open public ive. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan the last couple of counts, the city’s better planned Mumbai, The inspiration comes from the con- spaces. We are attempting to create was extremely moved, especially population has dropped from 12.5 dition of Mumbai. The quality of life nearly 500 kilometres of green open since this was the first time he saw crore to 11.8. I hope it is a flash in mounted by architecture is deteriorating, and as the city spaces, which will be utilised as Mumbai the way we see it. Some the pan as I don’t want population firm P. K. Das & expands, public space is shrinking. walking and cycling tracks. These important bureaucrats were present to drop in Mumbai. I wish for it to Therefore it is important to have a spaces will be dotted with gardens during the inauguration and he had stabilise. I would never want to have Associates and the positive change. We have been and water parks. These spaces will an immediate discussion with them people leave the city thinking they working on it for 15 years. Whether not operate in a silo; they will all be on how they can take it forward. would be better off elsewhere. Mumbai Waterfronts it is Bandra Bandstand, Carter Road connected to each other, creating a Uddhav Thackeray has already Centre, currently on or any of the numerous other proj- vast network of green open space brought together corporators to AT: NGMA, Mahatma Gandhi Road, ects which we have been working that extends from Andheri to take this up with proper plans Near Regal Cinema, Fort display at a city gallery. on, it has been a transformation in Chembur; from Mahim to Colaba. It chalked out, replete with deadlines. the making. During the last one will connect all parts of the city and So the ball has already started TILL: Saturday, April 7, Tuesday to Das, Chairperson of the year, these individual efforts have will facilitate social networking in rolling. I am hoping that the support Sunday, from 11am to 6pm MWC, tells us what it come together. Lessons learnt from the real world. The rationale is to continues. TICKETS: Indians — Rs10; Foreign various citizen’s movements we have people enjoy and truly identify Nationals — Rs150; will mean to you if the have been a part of have culminated with the city. It is important to How long would a project of this into this exhibition. democratise Mumbai’s open spaces. magnitude take to get executed? Students/Children — Rs1 plans are ever How much will it cost? CALL: 22881969 sanctioned to be How can the project be executed? Will large-scale changes need to be The complete budget is Rs 2,500 LOG ON TO: The project has 2 principle parts — made to the layout of the city crore, which for a project of this www.ngmaindia.gov.in translated into reality. Part 1 is about the areas in which itself? Will it extend to changes in magnitude is actually quite less. The the changes have already been residential areas as well? maximum period for its execution is 10 METRO > 26.03.2012 > MUMBAI, www.mid-day.com Riteish pulls the plug > HITLIST 2 No saviour for the state CORPORATORS TO TAKE this time, saying he was pained by Singh’s remark in ravikiran the Lok Sabha that coalition partners were giving him trou- deshmukh ble. For all his political TIPS FROM EXHIBITION wiliness, he failed to realise that Singh’s barb was aimed at THE Economic Survey Report the TMC chief. tabled by the legislature With so much dissent brew- recently revealed the shocking ing, there is a definite ON OPEN SPACES truth behind the complacent possibility of a third front and grossly out-of-date emerging in time for the next assumptions about the state Lok Sabha elections, with all Urban planner PK Das’s designs to that we have been desperately of Congress’ friends-turned- holding on to. But as the state foes joining forces to keep the speedily plummets to new party at bay. Insiders have add 10 sq km to the existing 13.37 lows, the ruling Congress-NCP been whispering that Pawar partnership is in shambles, was the guiding force behind sq km of open grounds find favour with the recent last-minute SP’s electoral victory against desertion of the NCP for the the Congress, BSP and BJP in with Sena; corporators to see if they zilla parishad presidential Uttar Pradesh. And Pawar elections having hit the nail on appears to have found an apt can enforce ideas at ward-level the proverbial coffin. pupil in Akhilesh Yadav, who The principal Opposition of has reportedly been taking les- the BJP-Shiv Sena too has sons from him in the fine art of RINKITA GURAV nades along the coastline, selectively aligned with the backroom politics and political [email protected] major tree plantations and NCP to capture seats of power. scheming, in his frequent visits recreation grounds or play- While the political heavy- to New Delhi. IN a packed metropolis where grounds (RG/PG). weights spend all their time There are other parties breathing space is hard to come playing the wily game of num- which have not minced their by, a city architect’s plan to Well-received bers and shifting allegiances, words about their disgruntle- enhance Mumbai’s open spaces Said chairman of the BMC these other numbers tell a ment with the Congress Party. by almost 10 sq km has got the standing committee Rahul SMART DESIGN: BMC standing committee chairperson Rahul Shewale bleak story of neglect and neg- Leading from the front is, of attention of the Shiv Sena-ruled Shewale, “Uddhavji liked the looks at architect PK Das’s (inset) array of plans for the city at the NGMA, ative growth in the state. course, Mamata Bannerjee, BMC. So much so that party exhibition and has asked the Fort; the architect with his plan. PIC/BIPIN KOKATE The recent exchange of and following close on her executive president Uddhav corporators to have a look at it. barbs between the state unit heels is Tamilnadu CM Thackeray instructed his corpo- Das’s planning would increase and we could use Das’s designs ment,” he said. chiefs of the Congress and Jayalalitha and her party rators to attend an exhibition by the open spaces in the city as for other beaches and coast- Said Das, “Open space is NCP leaders have exposed the AIADMK, who were lukewarm urban planner PK Das at the per internation- line,” Shewale shrinking in the city, reflecting sad truth about politics today – allies to begin with. National Gallery of Modern Art al standards. If said, adding, the quality of life due to the the number game has taken A candidate who is likely to (NGMA), Fort to view his array we start work- “He has made exploitation of land with con- precedence over any need jump off the BJP bandwagon of plans to increase the spaces ing on the an interesting struction potential. I have whatsoever to honour political to join this new front is Bihar without affecting any citizen. projects, they suggestion of planned a comprehensive net- ideologies or doctrines. All the CM Nitish Kumar, who was On Tuesday, Sena’s 75 newly would be better including the work system of developing and avowals and manifestos are never really broken into the elected corporators will go for than the coastal mangrove area, maintaining open spaces, thus sacrificed at the shaky altars of BJP mould, and has always the exhibition, with a view to road project. I one of the most enhancing the social network- power, within weeks after struggled to accept the terms incorporating the ideas at ward went for the encroached in ing in the city. If corporators are elections. and conditions laid down by level. exhibition and the city, in the showing interest in the exhibi- While Congress leaders the saffron party. Recently, he According to Das’s plans, might include some of the development plan.” tion, it can be done at ward grumbled that the NCP had almost forced BJP to support there would be 9.85 sq km more things in the BMC’s revised The BMC budget is set for level also.” gone back on its word by align- his Janata Dal candidate in the open space in the city against budget this year. We could revision in the standing com- By Das’s calculations, the ing with BJP and Sena in a Rajya Sabha elections. the existing 13.37 sq km – or 1.1 incorporate a separate category mittee when members can spaces around 16 km of beach- majority of districts during the Back home, CM Prithviraj sq m per person, the least in the in the budget: every year funds propose projects and revise pro- es, 37 km of planned nallahs, elections for zilla parishad Chavan seems to be struggling country. The idea is to mark out could be allocated under Open visions. four rivers 28.3 km in length, office bearers, NCP spit venom to keep the party afloat, as it spaces beside nallahs and Spaces in Mumbai.” “We currently only have a and 70.97 sq km of creeks and over what it perceived was the sinks in the thick mire of rivers, and beautify them with “We have certain beach head wherein Rs 492 crore has wetlands — a total of 155.1 sq Congress Party’s attempt to scams. With their strained walkways and cycling tracks; nourishments projects going on been set aside for RG/PG, while km — can be put to advantage keep the party way from the relationship, the Congress and have boardwalks and prome- at Mahim-Dadar-Prabhadevi Rs 100 crore for the develop- to create extra space. seats of power in Pune and NCP look unlikely to join Kolhapur. hands and fight the approach- New political allegiances ing elections to five municipal look likely to crop up soon. bodies – Bhivandi Nizampur, Different parties — national or Malegoan, Latur, Parbhani BAMBOO GODOWN RAZED TO THE GROUND regional — have hitherto and Chandrapur. The state Officials from the Mumbai fire resigned themselves to playing chiefs of the parties have hint- brigade spent almost an entire second fiddle to Big Brother ed as much. Congress, but all that looks set According to a senior Sunday trying to douse the flames to change soon. Leaders of Congress minister, the NCP that broke out in a bamboo godown Congress’ allies have been will lose no time to align itself near Mulund colony. Officials speaking openly and boldly, in with the third front and take confirmed that the flames broke out tones of defiance that would advantage of the current polit- after bamboo poles caught fire last never be heard before. NCP ical scenario, with the afternoon. One of the fire officials Chief Sharad Pawar caused a Congress having reached its furore when he said that the nadir. said, “The poles caught fire around Congress would only have The BJP, in the mean time, 12 pm and spread throughout the Rahul Gandhi to blame if it is busy dousing the fire of plot by evening. As the poles were fared poorly in the UP internal feuds, nation-wide as dry and piled on top of each other, Assembly elections. well as in state units. The the fire spread quickly. The flames Once the allies found their recent polls to civic and local continued to increase as dusk lost voice of protest, there was bodies have clearly shown that no turning back or toning it the Sena has no ambition approached. We have deployed over down. Soon, TMC Chief beyond Mumbai and Thane. 30 fire engines at the spot and are Mamata Bannerjee flexed her So who will save doing our best to control the fire.” Till muscles and forced the PM to Maharashtra? Amidst all this 8.30 pm, officials were still trying to sack Dinesh Trivedi. Now, mayhem, the bleeding state douse the flames. Fortunately, no one Samajwadi Party chief has little chance of recovering was injured during the blaze and Mulayansingh Yadav is drop- its speedily declining fortunes. ping hints at early polls for the officials will ascertain the cause of Lok Sabha. the fire. TEXT/NAVEEN NAIR, Emboldened, Pawar soon — The writer is Political Editor, PIC/DATTA KUMBHAR vented spleen again, at the PM MiD DAY