Mumbai: Steps leading to Mhada ground demolished in Powai, locals fear encroachment.

MUMBAI: Sturdy old concrete steps that led the public to one of the two entrances of a Mhada recreation ground (RG) plot in Powai, Rambaug Lane, were suddenly and swiftly demolished in the past two days, much to the shock of local residents, some of whom have intimated the Mhada-Mumbai office.
The residents fear that the vast extra space created by the destruction of the 30-year-old stairs can be further encroached by vested interests.Hence, they are demanding that the authorities rebuild the staircase, and also take action against whosoever is responsible for the destruction of public property.
“Many locals noticed how these Mhada-built concrete steps, located next to building number 11 (shops) on one side, and boundary of building numbers 5 and 6 on the other, were being destroyed by a drilling machine on July 28 and 29. It is rather strange as to why anyone would have any problem with these steps. Many suspect encroachment of space to be the reason behind this,” said a Powai resident.
Another local of Rambaug Lane, Madhavi Desai, commented: “Animal feeders used to often climb up these cemented steps in order to feed the dogs and cats since the animals would prefer to sit inside this Mhada ground which has a lot of greenery. However, now that these steps have been demolished, there is no possibility for the dogs to go to the Mhada RG plot. The other, second entrance to this ground has been kept locked by some private party.”
Desai added that the Mhada officials must thoroughly investigate such an irregularity and also see how to rebuild this staircase again.
The Mhada-Mumbai executive engineer (Kurla division) Rahul Vhatkar said that his staff will inquire into this issue by going to the site. Another official from the same department informed us that Mhada had not given any orders to demolish these steps; hence further inquiry is needed on this serious matter.
In the last three to four years, a few more irregularities have come to light from Rambaug Lane. About eight months ago several housing societies had complained to Mhada about a permanent stage being constructed inside a second Mhada ground where children play cricket.
In June-July 2021, there were multiple attempts to illegally cut down a tamarind tree inside the Mhada RG plot, in order to create more space. Nature lovers had complained to the BMC and Mhada, leading to the lodging of an FIR against unknown persons then.
“It is quite suspicious the way these stairs were broken and removed. The local politicians also encourage such irregularities. The civic authorities should instead provide street lights at Rambaug Lane, which have been defunct ever since the road concretization work had taken place earlier this year,” said a disturbed resident.