Civic body issues eviction notice to Turf Club

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday served an eviction notice on the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) over alleged breaches in the lease agreement. “We have received a notice from the BMC and are looking into the matter,” said a spokesperson for the Turf Club. The BMC had threatened to terminate the lease of the RWITC,which manages the Mahalaxmi Racecourse,for sub-letting part of the racecourse land to a third party without the civic body’s permission.

The BMC said the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) lease had not been renewed by the BMC since 1994. The lease expired in 1994,and was given an extension until May 31,1995,by charging the club a rent of Rs 20 lakh. Since then,there hasn’t been any formal approval on the renewal of the lease,with the proposal still pending with the municipal body.

“The motive is not to take away the place from them but they (RWITC) should pay for the land they are using,” said Manoj Kotak,corporator and chairman of the civic improvements committee.