Mumbai: The BMC can no longer delete a reservation for a playground until and unless it provides an alternate plot of the same size for a playground. This directive is applicable to all planning authorities such as municipal corporations and councils across the state as well as to special planning authorities such as MMRDA, MHADA, CIDCO, MSRDC and such agencies.On Tuesday, the state urban development department (UDD) issued a directive under Section 154 (i) of the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act, 1966, strictly warning all planning authorities and special planning authorities in the state not to delete a reserved playground.UDD officials said in 2003 the govt had issued a directive that deletion of a reservation for a playground would require a detailed explanation on the reason for deletion and the proposal would need the approval of the state cabinet. “This was done to discourage planning authorities from deleting these open spaces. However, proposals for deletion continue to be sent to the state cabinet and hence the fresh directive,” said officials.A planning authority such as the BMC seeking to delete a playground reservation owing to certain hardships or for a public amenity will now have to simultaneously send a proposal for reservation of another plot of the same size to be reserved as a playground. “This will ensure that the number of playgrounds remains as it is and there is no reduction in this vital open space,” said officials.The directive also reiterates the 2003 order that all encroachments on a playground, no matter how old, cannot be regularised. The decision was taken after the govt finalised the Sports Policy, 2001.
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