Now Reading: Bombay HC seeks BMC reply on Neville D’Souza ground conversion
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Bombay HC seeks BMC reply on Neville D’Souza ground conversion
The Bombay High Court on Monday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to file a reply by August 20 to a petition against converting Bandra’s Neville D’Souza Football Ground into an exhibition…
The Story in Brief
The Bombay High Court on Monday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to file a reply by August 20 to a petition against converting Bandra’s Neville D’Souza Football Ground into an exhibition and convention centre. The court also allowed the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) to file its response. The next hearing is on August 24 at 3 pm.
The Mumbai Football Association (MFA), which manages the 8,450-square-metre ground, argues that the change violates natural justice as it was not heard. The Free Press Journal reports the ground has FIFA-standard turf, seating for 5,000, and hosts over 900 matches yearly, serving 400 youth clubs, 300 senior teams and 10,000 players. The MFA says the conversion would destroy a key sporting amenity. MHADA counters that the land was originally earmarked for a convention complex and that revenue from the project would fund affordable housing.
The Indian Opinion
Both sides in this Bandra ground fight wrap themselves in public interest. The MFA points to 10,000 players and 900 matches a year, a living sports hub. The BMC and MHADA cite a 1990s reservation for a convention centre and the need to fund affordable housing. Neither camp has squared the circle: how does Mumbai lose a FIFA-standard ground without proving it can replace it, or at least show it has weighed the cost? The BMC’s August 20 affidavit will reveal if any sports impact assessment was actually done.
Sources (2): timesofindia.indiatimes.com, freepressjournal.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
