.jpg?width=1200)
Mumbai: Around five months after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation had issued notice to MLA Abu Asim Azmi’s organisation to evict the Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Ground in Govandi, the organisation has yet not evicted the property. The residents of Govandi have demanded immediate compliance of BMC’s order and want the ground along with its study centre to be handed over to Tata Institute of Social Sciences.
In January, the residents of Govandi alleged violations in the operations of the Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj ground located in the M-East ward. After the residents alleged that the ground established for local children to engage in sports is being misused for commercial purposes, the deputy municipal commissioner (Gardens) of the BMC had issued an eviction notice to Niyaz Ahmed Educational and Welfare Trust, entrusted with the operations of the ground and a library cum study centre.
.jpg)
The trust, which is run by Samajwadi Party’s local MLA Abu Asim Azmi, was alleged to be frequently using the ground for commercial purposes such as cricket and football, which deviates from its intended role as a community-centric sports ground. After the eviction notice issued by the BMC in February, the BMC had also sent a proposal to TISS asking them to adopt the library, which was accepted by them in April through an Expression of Interest letter.
Atik Ahmed Khan, a member of Govandi Citizens Welfare Forum, said, “The MLA’s organisation has encroached around 1500 sq ft of land horizontally and 1700 sq ft mezzanine floor. It is being used as a cricket turf and a commercial skill centre certified for abroad recruitment. We are afraid that the library & study centre, which is very helpful to marginalised students living in slum houses in the locality, will also be encroached upon.”
However, after five months of the eviction notice, as the MLA’s trust is yet to handover the ground and study centre, the residents of Govandi have raised their demands to safeguard the community’s ground. On Monday, Govandi citizens and members of Govandi Citizen Welfare group met Amit Saini, additional municipal commissioner of the eastern suburbs and demanded implementation of the order passed by the DMC.
The Free Press Journal contacted Amit Saini, Add.MC who had earlier sought time to look into the matter but later failed to respond.
“There has been no compliance at the ward level as the ward officer is incapable. We have been informed by the office of Add.MC that the issue has been reviewed and forwarded to the DMC and orders will be passed on to the ward level. We are hopeful that the higher authorities will ensure that the children get back their space meant for their studies and sport activities,” added Khan.
.jpg)
Shaikh Faiyaz Alam , founder of Govandi Citizens Welfare Forum, said, "Social Activists and whistleblowers who confront the government and reveal the wrongdoings of the ruling class are called "Tapori" by the leaders. This is a barrage of illegal and disparaging remarks made against us by Samajwadi Party's state chief, which were made on purpose to damage our reputation."
.jpeg)