Mumbai: Former mayor Kishori Pednekar from Shiv Sena (UBT) on Tuesday accused the BMC administration of “privatising” civic properties under the guise of public-private partnerships (PPP), alleging that open plots, schools, gardens, playgrounds and municipal markets were being handed over to private developers.At a meeting of BMC’s general body, Pednekar said such a policy was “anti-Mumbai” and would result in the civic body suffering financial losses running into crores of rupees. She alleged private entities were subsequently using these parks and playgrounds to run clubs, restaurants and other commercial activities. Such arrangements, she claimed, either restricted public access or resulted in citizens being charged exorbitant fees.Congress group leader Ashraf Azmi backed Pednekar and alleged that land use reservations had been changed at 17 locations across Mumbai. Claiming that several such changes had taken place over the past four years in the absence of corporators, he placed before the House documents relating to one such proposed change in reservation.Members of the governing alliance objected to the allegations, leading to a war of words between the two sides. The situation deteriorated after opposition members waved placards and raised slogans inside the House. Mayor Ritu Tawde had to intervene and warn corporators that indiscipline would not be tolerated. She directed them to leave the placards outside the House.BMC made a detailed statement at the meeting about plots that were leased and auctioned, and reservations that were changed in recent months. Additional municipal commissioner Avinash Dhakane said, “BMC is following all prescribed rules and procedures while inviting tenders for the development of its open plots, sports complexes, schools and other facilities under the PPP model. The administration’s objective was to make better use of vacant municipal land, provide more facilities to Mumbaikars and generate revenue for the civic body.”In case of a plot at Andheri—which came under scrutiny following a proposal to hand it over to a trust run by BJP MLC Amrish Patel—a tender had been invited under the PPP model for the upgrade and maintenance of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Sports Complex, he said. “Three bids were found eligible, with the bid submitted by Vile Parle Sports Club most suitable.”On its improvements committee approving the leasing of a 25,543sqm plot at Century Mills in Worli for 30 years to Peddar Realty Ltd for redevelopment at Rs 1,321 crore, Dhakane said the tender includes a condition that around 650 existing residents be rehabilitated at the same site with 405sqft homes.He asserted that BMC had followed due tender procedures for other projects as well, including the Bandra football ground, SevenHills Hospital, which was given on lease, and Worli jetty, where a helipad has been proposed.
