Aaditya Thackeray Opposes Move to Divert Mumbai Open Spaces to Private Parties
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray visited Mulund East on Saturday and voiced strong opposition to the alleged diversion of Mumbai’s open spaces to private parties, raising concerns over plots across the city including in the Andheri-Juhu area.
During his inspection of open plots in the area, Thackeray opposed a proposal to alter the reservation status of a 40,000-square-foot plot designated for a sports complex. He pointed out that while a plot opposite Orchid International School is already reserved for a fuel station, a private fuel company is seeking to acquire the adjacent plot earmarked for sports facilities. He stated that his party would not allow the reservation to be altered under any circumstances.
Thackeray accused the BJP-led government of systematically changing reservations on public grounds to benefit organisations linked to the ruling party. He alleged that between 17 and 18 open grounds across Mumbai have been lost over the past four years. According to Thackeray, the government is seeking to hand over 22 BEST depots, two plots in Mulund, the Neville D’Souza football ground in Bandra, and several open spaces in the Andheri-Juhu belt.
Criticising the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Improvement Committee for civic mismanagement, Thackeray called on citizens to join a Tiranga rally on Sunday evening to defend the city’s recreational lands. He maintained that the demonstration was not political, warning that without open grounds, future generations would have no space left to play and residents would lose vital breathing space.
BJP MLA from Mulund Mihir Kotecha rejected Thackeray’s statements, describing the allegations as baseless. Kotecha explained that local residents had sought a petrol pump in the neighbourhood for 50 years, which was finally being realised after two years of administrative efforts. He noted that a separate sports complex covering 1.5 acres is being developed about 400 feet away, in addition to the nearby 10-acre Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Garden.
