Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar seeks to review controversial open space policy

Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar at an event organised by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) on Tuesday declared that the BJP supports the review of the controversial open space policy and will not allow it to be passed in the general body meeting on Wednesday.

Ashish Shelar discusses controversial open space at an event organised by ORF.

ORF had organised a discussion on the controversial open spaces policy on Tuesday. The event was attended by eminent personalities like Nayana Kathpalia, Hafiz Contractor, Shailesh Gandhi, Sudheendra Kulkarni, Shelar and additional municipal commissioner SVR Srinivas.

Speaking on the occasion, Shelar asked for a comprehensive review of the policy and therefore asked for it to be referred back to the Improvements Committee. He also asked for all plots given away under the caretaker policy to be audited.

Srinivas in response said that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is not averse to suggestion and objections and if any valuable suggestions are given, they will be incorporated in a separate circular for the policy.

"This discussion was a welcome step in the matter since all the stakeholders were brought on one platform. We would like to believe that the officials and politicians will keep their word. Let's see what happens in Wednesday's meeting," said Sayali Mankikar, research fellow of ORF