Nearly 50 environmentalists and residents from across the city have decided to approach the state government and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in yet another effort to press for the adoption policy over the caretaker policy for gardens, parks, recreation grounds and playgrounds in the city.

The green lovers — including NGOs Citispace, Agni and Jagrut Nagrik Manch, and residents’ associations of Mahim, Kandivali, Malad , Bandra, Khar, Shivaji Park, Marine Drive and Juhu — said that while a 2007 High Court order stayed the caretaker policy, the BMC officials were using it to shirk their responsibility towards the maintenance of open spaces.

“The then Chief Minister had approached the High Court for a stay on the caretaker policy. But the civic authorities had completely washed their hands off maintaining or overseeing the adoption of the open spaces till then. Though the caretaker policy was stayed, there was no order on the adoption policy,” residents argued.

Anandani Thakoor, managing trustee of the Khar Residents Association, said, “The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) has ample funds to maintain public places. They have a budget of Rs 5 crore for each ward. Why can’t they use the funds to take care of the parks and gardens?”

Last fortnight, more than a year after the High Court ordered a stay on the caretaker policy for open spaces, Mayor Shubha Raul declared her decision to get the stay vacated.

Activists fear that if the caretaker policy is not withdrawn by the BMC, around 311 acres of gardens and parks and 648 acres of RG-PGs will soon disappear. “The mayor is trying to get the stay lifted on the controversial caretaker policy. If this stay is vacated, a few open spaces of the city will soon disappear. Over the next 10 days, we will request the chief minister to take up the matter and also urge the BMC officials to perform their duties of protecting, securing and maintaining the open spaces,” said Vidya Vaidya of Citispace, an NGO.

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