Mumbai: The controversial proposal to alter the reservation of the Neville D’Souza Football Ground at Bandra Reclamation from a playground to an exhibition centre—already cleared by BMC’s improvement committee in June this year—is scheduled to be placed before the civic house of corporators for a nod on Aug 10.Congress has announced its opposition to the move, insisting that the open space must continue to serve as a playground. “We are against the proposal and will ensure it does not get cleared in the general body meeting. We must also be given an adequate opportunity to raise objections before any decision is taken,” said Congress group leader Ashraf Azmi.The proposal seeks to amend the Development Plan (DP) 2034 by replacing the existing playground reservation (ROS 1.4) and existing playground facility (EOS 1.4) on an 8,450 sq m MHADA-owned plot at Bandra Reclamation with a reservation for an Exhibition Centre (RSA 5.1).According to the civic administration, the proposal stems from a request made by Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), which stated that the plot had originally been earmarked for a convention complex under the Bandra Reclamation layout approved by the state govt in 1983. However, when DP 2034 was prepared, the land was shown as a playground as it was vacant and was being used as a football ground.Civic records state that the plot is owned by MHADA and has been allotted to Mumbai Football Association. While parts of the land are covered with turf, officials said there is currently no convention or exhibition facility in the vicinity, making the reservation change justifiable.Since DP 2034 does not provide for a ‘Convention Centre’ reservation but includes a provision for an ‘Exhibition Centre (RSA 5.1)’, the civic administration has proposed reserving the land under the latter category.If the proposal is approved by the general body, BMC will initiate the statutory process under Section 37 of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act to amend the Development Plan. This will include inviting public suggestions and objections before forwarding the proposal to the state urban development department for final approval.Opposition parties, however, said the city cannot afford to lose another open space. Azmi said Congress would oppose any move to alter the reservation and would press for retaining the land as a playground.
