Mumbai: BMC takes greater control over Byculla museum

After much controversy over the decisions and functioning of the Bhau Daji Lad museum in Byculla, the BMC on Tuesday announced that it is planning to take more control. This has raised a question mark over the future role of its director Tasneem Zakaria Mehta. A new trust headed by the mayor will look after the affairs of the museum now and it will consist of civic officials. A new proposal detailing the trust's framework will be tabled before the corporators in a month. Whether Mehta will remain a member of the trust is still unclear.

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Tasneem Mehta ran into controversy with MNS last year after there was a proposal for the museum's expansion. File pic

Mehta ran into controversy with the MNS last year after there was a proposal for the museum's expansion. A car park, part of the expansion, was to be constructed on a neighbouring playground used by local children. The MNS had claimed that it is the only playground in the area and should not be taken away from economically backward children for parking cars of the elite. The proposal was later trashed. Besides, the MNS had shot down plans to hold the finale of a prominent fashion show in the museum.

"There is a committee that looks at the museum affairs and is supposed to be headed by the mayor. But currently the mayor has no say in the matters and decisions are taken unilaterally. That's why we demanded more control," said MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande.

"There will be a new framework for the museum now and the current director's role will change. I'm not sure if we can say that she (Mehta) has been removed. But she will no longer have the final word," said BJP corporator Manoj Kotak. mid-day tried contacting Mehta but she was unavailable for comment.