Mumbai: Garba organiser violating civic rules on public playground, alleges activist

MUMBAI: An activist has filed an FIR against the organisers of a high profile garba event for misusing a civic playground for their Navratra function. Tushar Sonigra's Beats 16 dandia is being held at Dhanjibhai Mehta Ground, commonly known as Sadhna Ground, in Vile Parle.
Activist Hina Shroff said, "The BMC rules stipulate that only half the playground can be allotted for such functions while leaving the other half open for public use. Moreover, organisers cannot sell tickets to events held in BMC grounds. But this garba is charging a fee. Children were denied entry when we took them along Thursday. Bouncers at the site forcibly deleted the videos we had shot as well."

On Thursday, Shroff and the bouncers of the garba event engaged in a physical fight when she entered to take pictures and shoot videos. She later filed an FIR against garba organiser Bhargav Patel of Vile Parle Patidar Samaj in Santacruz police station.

Patel filed a counter complaint. He termed her a "harasser and habitual complainant". He said, "Shroff has a reputation for causing nuisance. Where are such activists when this ground is misused by drug addicts? We have sanitised the spot and installed lighting. I have all the requisite permissions. I have paid a fee for the full ground and am complying with all conditions. Children do not play there by night." When asked why they were stopped during the day, he said, "Which children get the time to play, except on weekends?"

Assistant municipal commissioner of BMC K west ward Prashant Gaikwad said that garba organisers cannot use the entire ground and that 50% needs to be kept vacant for public use. "Earlier too, the organisers had covered the entire ground and we ensured that they removed it. We will inspect if the same has happened again and take action. Besides since it's a religious and cultural event for which they have sought permission, no fee can be charged from the public," he said.

A zonal police officer of senior rank said, "Shroff did approach us with her complaint. We requested her to approach BMC for misuse of the ground. As for noise rule violations, our men will take action."