Shortly after citizens including the football community, rallied to save the Neville D’Souza Football Ground at Bandra Reclamation, another plot in the same area is becoming a point of contention. A group of residents have alleged that the BMC has been slow to develop a 1.7 lakh sq ft plot reserved for burial grounds for Muslims and Christians, a crematorium for Hindus, a municipal dispensary, and a garden.
Social worker Zahid Yunus Khan has filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court seeking directions for the BMC to develop the reserved plot near Nargis Dutt Nagar at Bandra Reclamation. “This reservation of 1.7 lakh sq ft of land was made for the welfare of residents of Bandra West and Khar, who have long awaited a dedicated cemetery each for Muslims, Hindus and Christians, along with a much-needed green space and health facility for all,” Khan said, adding that around 1,000 residents have signed a letter included in the PIL, urging authorities to develop the plot as per the Development Plan.
The PIL alleges that despite MSRDC handing over the plot to the BMC in phases, no work on the planned facilities has begun. Residents claim unauthorized occupants including a labour camp and two commercial hoardings have taken over parts of the land, fueling suspicion that the BMC may be stalling deliberately until the plot can be “dereserved” in the next Development Plan.
Amjad Mushtaq Qureshi, a resident of Jamate Jamhuria in Bandra West, said there is currently no kabrastan or crematorium for Hindus in the area and urged the BMC to complete the facilities without further delay. Ganesh Jadhav, who lives near Bandra Reclamation, noted that Hindus currently have to travel to Bandra East or Khar for cremation, since no facility exists in Bandra West. “We fear that some builder might grab the land…if left unused for long,” he said.
Dinesh Pallewad, assistant municipal commissioner of the H-West ward, said the court’s directions were being followed closely. “The plan for the cemetery is already underway and we have submitted the proposed design to the municipal architect. We intend to develop the land, but will have to ensure that we follow due process of law,” he said.
