Colaba footballers protest conversion of mud maidan to turf

MUMBAI: Scores of football players and their coaches from Colaba-Cuffe Parade on Friday protested against the conversion of a mud layered recreational ground (RG) into artificial turf "against the wishes of the local public".

"Friday morning, the Colaba Back Garden (Sabina Chandrashekhar ground) Bachao Samiti arrived at this maidan which is located beside Cooperage," said fishermen's union leader Devendra Tandel, who is a member of the Samiti. The group forced the contractor to halt the "excavation work" that was in progress. The contractor complained to Colaba police which summoned the footballers for an explanation.


"We pointed to clause 11 in the BMC's permission letter which says no construction can be carried out at this site," said Jitendra 'Raju' Tandel of the Samiti. "Construction of turf will reduce the size of the playing area, thereby shrinking the size of each team from 11 a side to six a side. Turf also causes grievous injuries as compared to a fall in the mud. Who will foot our hospital bills?"

The Samiti alleged that state assembly speaker MLA Rahul Narwekar, his brother Makrand, a three-term local BJP corporator, and Rachna Narwekar were driving the project.

However, Makrand Narwekar told TOI that the objection was "intentional" and "only by a specific set of people". “They are making this a political issue when actually it is meant to benefit the entire locality. We also can bring hundreds of residents who are genuinely interested in having a facility as such. Astroturf access in most areas is paid, while this will be totally free of cost. The BMC will not be charging anyone for using it,” said Narwekar.

Civic officials said that all permissions were in place. “We have all papers to indicate that nothing were done unlawfully,” said an officer.

Meanwhile Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray wrote to Sarah Thomas, chairperson of Garden Sports & Recreation Society, which is implementing the project, to reconsider the move, saying, "A few years ago there was a proposal to construct a swimming pool in this garden... which we scrapped after considering opposition from local citizens. I have now learnt of the proposal to lay astroturf on the ground. Several residents have reached out to me to express opposition, and they feel it should continue to remain a mud ground. The present surface allows children to play freely..."

Another footballer Saurabh Meher said, "No players or residents were consulted. Turf will alter the natural mud maidan which has spawned national level footballers. It is our only access to proper practice for big matches. We have complained to BMC's A ward saying that construction violates the mandate of beautification."