Anna Hazare backs idea of theme park at Mumbai racecourse

"The racecourse does not benefit the poor. Those who are wealthy are looting the country. A garden should be set up at the race course land as it will help in balancing the environment," he told reporters on sidelines of an event here.

A debate is raging in the city as to whether the expired lease of the Royal Western India Turf Club, which runs the racecourse, should be renewed by the state government or a garden should be set up on the prime land.

Shiv Sena, which rules the Mumbai civic body, is adamant on its demand to establish a theme park at the sprawling land in Central Mumbai.

Yesterday, during the foundation day celebrations of Shiv Sena, its President Uddhav Thackeray said a garden will benefit Mumbaikars.

"It belongs to citizens of Mumbai, and a garden, if developed there, would benefit the city," he had said. Hazare said the government should enact a law to acquire huge tracts of land lying vacant in the financial capital.u00a0