Mumbai, April 15 (NationPress) The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) expressed serious concerns on Wednesday regarding the Mahayuti government's newly introduced policy that permits the construction of luxurious hotels and shopping malls on land that was originally designated solely for sports activities.

In a critical editorial published in the party's official publication 'Saamana', the Thackeray faction accused the government of executing a deliberate strategy to covertly 'consume' Mumbai's recreational and athletic spaces for profit. They claim the state administration is bypassing Supreme Court regulations to enable clandestine agreements with developers, posing a significant threat to the city's already limited open areas.

Under the guise of establishing 'Integrated Sports Complexes', the government has allegedly revised the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR). The proposed policy includes a land-use division wherein 70% of the area is reserved for sports while 30% is designated for commercial purposes. This policy is applicable to open spaces larger than five hectares within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and over ten hectares throughout the rest of Maharashtra, according to the editorial.

The Thackeray faction has dubbed this initiative a 'Builder Sports Policy', arguing that it represents a scheme for corruption rather than fostering athletic growth. “There are fears that the 30% commercial allocation will lead to 100% of the profits benefiting contractors and political affiliates, with developers ultimately claiming the remaining 70% of the land,” it stated.

According to the editorial, the administration defends the policy by emphasizing the need for modern infrastructure to host national and international sporting events. However, it raised questions about why the Urban Development Department, rather than the Sports Department, is spearheading this initiative and what will happen to the revenue generated from these commercial transactions.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena highlighted that the policy endangers numerous historic and essential open spaces, including Shivaji Park, Azad Maidan, Cross Maidan, and gymkhanas in Marine Lines, as well as Gaodevi Maidan, Central Maidan, and Dadoji Konddev Maidan in Thane. Concerns were also voiced regarding the potential commercialization of iconic venues like Wankhede and Brabourne Stadiums.

With children already resorting to playing in streets and parking lots due to current encroachments, the transformation of these grounds into 'exclusive clubhouses' for the ultra-rich, reportedly involving collaborations with government officials, would inflict a devastating blow to the state's sports culture. If these areas are converted into hotels, future generations may only be able to view playgrounds in pictures, the editorial cautioned.

The Thackeray faction has called for transparency from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding the selection of these lands and the ultimate destination of the revenue from the 30% commercial sales. They stressed that clarity is urgently needed as citizens and athletes gear up to protest for every 'inch of land' to safeguard the city’s infrastructure from what they term 'mafia-style collusion'.