Mumbai: Ghatkopar residents up in arms with BMC over proposed change in plot reservation for cemetary expansion

The recreation ground in Ghatkopar commonly known as LBS Joggers Park

Residents of complexes near Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg in Ghatkopar have objected to a proposed change in the reservation of a plot popularly known as LBS Joggers Park to expand an adjacent Muslim cemetery. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) planted 10,500 trees on the plot using the Miyawaki technique in 2020. The 8,593-sq-m plot is flanked by the burial ground on one side and several residential structures on the other.

The development plan department of the BMC published a notice in the last week of December seeking suggestions and objections to its proposal to delete the existing amenity of recreation ground on the plot, which bears the CTS no. 50 B in Vikhroli. "We haven't received any internal communication yet as the proposal is in the primary stage," said an official from the garden department.

Residents of three building complexes - The Address, Kalpataru and Presidential Towers - have expressed outrage at the idea as they fear losing the only open space they have. Devendra Khara, a resident of Panorama Society, said, "The park provides a crucial recreation area for all surrounding localities and people, including children and senior citizens, use the space for yoga, meditation and for spending quality time with their families in a green surrounding. We requested the BMC to abandon its proposal as the residents will lose an open ground as well as thousands of trees which were planted under the Miyawaki forest plan."

Shrinivas, a resident of Boulevard Society, said, "With the population increasing, air quality worsening and scarcity of open space, any proposal to abandon more than 10,500 trees is unthinkable. We have sent our objections to BMC to stop the proposed conversion. We are also appealing through social media and hope the corporation will listen to our voice."

MLA's letter

Parag Shah, an MLA from Ghatkopar East, wrote to the BMC recently, mentioning that under the construction permission, the builder had merged four small plots into one recreational ground (RG) plot and surrendered it to the civic body. "It is a mini forest now and the residents purchased flats looking at the approvals, including the RG area. Extending the said park into a burial ground would also be contrary to the construction permission," he wrote.

He also stated, "We believe there are alternative locations that could accommodate the needs for burial ground." "We received a letter from a local MLA two months back requesting that the adjacent cemetery be expanded by changing the reservation. So, we issued the notice inviting suggestions and objections from citizens. Depending upon the response, the BMC will take a decision," said a civic official.

‘Don't want to get rid of RG'

Ram Kadam, the local MLA who proposed the extension of the burial ground said, "I didn't have any intention to convert the RG plot and the letter was sent to consider sentiments of the community, which needs more space for a cemetery. After residents objected to the idea, I requested the BMC not to go with the plan to change the reservation, but at the same time make another land parcel in the nearby area available for the cemetery.