BMC sees red over inauguration of MCA's new cricket club

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has planned to inaugurate its newly developed club at Kandivli despite the structure not receiving its occupation certificate (OC) from the civic body.

MCA officials have scheduled to inaugurate the newly built club situated at Mahaveer Nagar in Kandivli on July 14, Sunday and has even invited CM Prithviraj Chavan for the event. However, Mayor Sunil Prabhu has appealed to the CM to stay away from the function till the structure receives its OC, as till then the construction would be treated as illegal.

The mayor also alleged that the MCA has built a bar and a restaurant even though permissions were only given for a restroom, changing room and a security cabin.u00a0

"The plot was allotted to the MCA for a cricket academy and not to run a club. Also, without an OC, they cannot schedule an inauguration," said Prabhu.

Members of the Shiv Sena also raised the same issue during the civic standing committee meeting, adding that the BMC should seize the plot.

"The MCA has flouted BMC norms and hence, the BMC should immediately possess the plot," said Sena leader Yashodhar Phanse.

The civic body had handed over the 42,000-sq metres plot -- which according to the development plan had been earmarked as a playground ‘PG'-- to the MCA in February 2005. "The municipal commissioner should set an inquiry against BMC officials who allowed them to construct on the PG plot," demanded Phanse.

When MiD DAY asked the additional municipal commissioner, Mohan Adtani said, "We will look into the matter."

Despite repeated attempts, MCA secretary Nitin Dalal was not available for comment.

AAP to ask for stay
Anjali Damania of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), who had alleged that the MCA had usurped the land in the first place, said that the party would approach the High Court on Friday to demand a stay on the inauguration. "The corporation owns the land. So, the MCA should hand over the developed property to the BMC and then take it over to manage. Hence, the board outside should read MCGM Club, managed by MCA," she said.u00a0