Krishna Pawle: Hallmarks

Another Public Space Reclaimed...On Dussehra!

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), just a few months back, had come down heavily on shopkeepers who encroach upon footpath in front of their shops. The BMC had even stated back then that shops making alteration on the footpath will have to pay for the restoration work. Minor changes like having a staircase encroaching on the pavement would be demolished by the BMC but major structural changes would have to be paid for by the defaulting shopkeeper.

But it isn’t just shopkeepers and eateries that take over the footpath or other public property, builders and housing societies are known indulge in such practices as well. Extending the boundary walls of the building complex and taking over the adjacent footpath or road are common occurrences. But, a crackdown on such housing societies or builder group is not always an easy thing. The encroachment is done usually so discreetly that it isn't usually noticeable or sometime the civic body looks the other way while the housing society is free to encroach upon.

This attitude of the BMC to look the other way while the housing societies encroach upon is not a new thing. BMC is known to let illegal constructions take place and take action only when there is a complaint. And this blatant ‘ignorance’ got so out of hand at one point that the High Court had to ask the BMC to change its attitude. Last year, around the same time, the High Court pulled up the BMC for its “pick-and-choose” policy on initiating action against illegal structures.

Frustrated by a similar situation in downtown Mumbai, Aadhar Pratishthan’s President, Krishna Pawle had dashed off a letter to the A Ward of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation about encroachments by a DSK Durga Mata Tower and Fitness Five Club in Colaba. In his letter, Pawle spoke of the public garden that had been taken over by the DSK Durga Mata Tower and Fitness Five Club.
He alleged the DSK Durga Mata Tower and Fitness Five Club had kept a security guard at the entry gate and the general public was prohibited from entering the garden and when asked, the guard is quick to point out that the property was a private property.

The letter states that even though there is a board mentioned ‘the said piece of land is reserved as R.G. and is open for public,’ the board is not put in a manner where general public can see. It has been placed behind bamboo bushes thereby preventing public from reading it.

The BMC following the complaint and a site visit to the venue wrote back saying that the "objections raised by complainant were agreeable," and instructed the Chairman / Secretary of DSK Durgamata Tower Coop Housing Society Ltd to open the said R.G for general public in unrestricted by disciplined manner and display the board showing timings at a conspicuous location and send compliance report to this office within a period of 15 days from receipt of the letter failing which action deemed fit would be initiated.

Krishna Pawle with members of the public at large entered the Recreation Ground on Dussehra - October 13th in a symbolic win of the people to reclaim what is rightfully theirs.

Here go the letters of correspondence pasted below...please click, download, read and distribute freely!

**Created Aadhar Pratisthan to reach out...resolve!**

Inaugurated Aadhar Pratishthan - a registered NGO - on August 15th 2011. The NGO was created to reach out to the poorest, most marginalised segments of society and help them in whichever way possible through timely intervention and aid.

Organised A Colaba Marathon...for the first time in history!

On a lazy Sunday morning, more than 800 local boys, girls and the elderly, converged at Lala Nigam Road to participate in the first-ever ‘Colaba Marathon’ initiated by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena supporter Krishna Pawle. The run was to bring into focus the much-needed security issues for women spurred by the recent gang-rape at Delhi that had the entire nation demanding a change.

And, for a change, as opposed to the cash-rich Mumbai Marathon that has the Who’s Who among corporates participating and oodles of financial and media support with even the roads cleared out for the event, ‘Colaba Marathon’ was organised on busy roads and had the common man participating. Women participating in a race that stretched across four kms and men running along a longer route of six kms meandered their way through regular traffic.

Kick-started from Colaba Market, the enthusiasts ran all the way to Electric House then towards Cooperage Ground before moving onto Budhwar Park and Cuffe Parade. After turning from Fariyas, they returned to Colaba Market running alongside BEST buses, goods-laden trucks, passing cars and motorcycles all along the way.

Guided throughout by volunteers who ensured there was not a single casualty or health issue in the event, the runners managed to complete the race without any hitches. The organisers had even got four ambulances making regular trips along the route to ensure that any untoward health issue was tackled.

“It was such a pleasant surprise to find such colossal support among Colaba’s youth for a cause so noble,” felt Third Pasta Lane resident Ashok Shahani.

“The initiative is wonderful as running for a cause as important as women’s security makes all the difference. I plan to get fit and participate in the run the next year,” he says. Incidentally, the Run also stressed on the need for the State to subsidise diesel costs for the benefit of fishermen and urged the renaming of Backgarden to Bandya Kakade Football Ground.

Sairaj Shaikh won the Men’s 15 year–30 year group followed by runner-up Kapil Pawar. Twenty-six year old Scherezade Shroff won the Women’s 15 year-30 year group while 15-year-old Priti Padagu came second. Thirty-two year old Kondiba Madne was the winner of the Men’s 30 year–50 year group with 36-year-old Devendra Sagtap in the second position. The winner of same age group in women’s category was 32-year-old Shubhangi Jadhav followed by runner-up 31-year-old Siddhi Bhosle.

More interestingly among these were the ‘young at heart,’ who didn’t just participate in the event but also went on to complete it. Wendy Murdock and Madhukar Koli were the winners of senior citizen’s category (50 years and above) and Deepika Paradakar was the winner in the Physically Challenged category.

The Chief Guests of the Colaba Marathon were Mr Asia Suhas Khamkar and H H Mohanan and E G Baiju – both Mr India title holders.