Saving Gandhi Maidan the Gandhi way

More than 300 residents of Kurla, including a 99-year old lady freedom fighter, went up in arms in front of the local BMC office on July 23, protesting against the administrative inaction in removing illegal encroachments from Gandhi Maidan.

The 2,500 sq m plot on S G Barve Marg was supposed to be a playground as per BMC’s development plan, but now is completely encroached by slums, housing sheds and industrial godowns.

For the past two decades the civic authorities and the collector have dodged these issues saying that the land is in the possession of the court receiver. The protesters said that it was only after the residents filed RTI applications that they got a clearer picture of the situation.