A long-standing dispute over access to a public garden and recreation ground in Khar has resurfaced, with residents and activists alleging that the open space has remained inaccessible for more than 20 years due to restrictions imposed by a neighbouring housing society.
According to local residents, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)-owned recreation ground, along with adjoining Development Plan (DP) roads, has effectively been cut off from public use after gates were installed at the site. They claim children and residents have been denied access to the area for years, forcing youngsters to play on nearby roads instead of using the designated open space.
Activist and former corporator Rahebar Khan, popularly known as Raja, alleged that Deccan Society has blocked access to both the recreation ground and the surrounding DP roads for several years.
“It has been more than two decades since the garden and roads were blocked by Deccan Society,” Khan told Mirror.
Khan stated that the land is reserved as a Recreation Ground (RG) under civic planning regulations and is intended for public use. He alleged that the gate erected by the society has restricted entry to both the ground and adjoining roads.
“The recreation ground is also allegedly being used for vehicle parking and as a dumping area,” Khan said.
He further urged authorities to remove the barriers, restore public access and undertake the development of the site as a community open space.
Residents say the prolonged closure has deprived the neighbourhood of much-needed recreational infrastructure. Local resident Hemant Suraj Singh said the issue has persisted for as long as he can remember.
“The garden has been blocked since my childhood. We have no other open land where children can play in and around the area,” he said.
According to Singh, residents have repeatedly raised the matter with elected representatives, including Khan and Congress leader Varsha Gaikwad.
Current corporator Swapna Mhatre said the process of transferring the land and adjoining roads to the BMC is underway.
“The handover of the ground and roads is in progress. Within a month, the land is expected to come under the BMC’s possession, after which redevelopment and improvement work will begin,” Mhatre told Mirror.
Representatives of Deccan Society had not responded to requests for comment on the allegations at the time of reporting.
Source: Mumbai Mirror
