19 July,2009 08:10 AM IST | | Hemal Ashar
The Karnataka govt's decision to not extend the Bangalore Turf Club's lease might be warning bell for city's green lung
In an unprecedented move, the Karnataka government recently refused to extend the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) lease beyond December 2009 and has ordered the racing body to shift out of the prime racecourse grounds in Bengaluru, to an alternate venue.
Reports are filtering in that Chikkajala, on the highway en route to the Bengaluru international airport, has been chosen. This could lead to alarm bells in Mumbai.
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"The club and citizens need to be watchful of any attempt to usurp our property," says RWITC media chairman Vivek Jain about the Mahalakshmi Race Course (below, pic by Anil Naik). (Above) the Bangalore Turf Club that has been ordered to shift out (pic by Vinod Kumar T)u00a0 |
Psychological setback
Mumbai feels that there is little cause for alarm of a similar situation in the city, though. Adil Gandhy of the Amateur Riders Club, (ARC), says, "It is a little scary to think that the same thing could happen to us over here.
Yet, four years down the line when the lease expires, who knows who will be in power? Psychologically, the BTC's decision is a setback."
P V Shetty, chairman of the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) says, "Our lease had expired, Mumbai still has a way to go it expires in 2013. Besides, I don't think the government there is as serious about taking over the racecourse as it was over here." He adds, "The Mumbai racecourse is a lung for the city. Even though it is in the heart of South Mumbai, it is still a little away from the main road." Shetty says the Karnataka government had been eyeing the Bangalore racecourse for more than two decades now, with the racecourse being systematically 'pruned' by authorities who took away land for de-congesting traffic. "We have 68 acres which may be 1/3 the size of Mumbai and other centres," says Shetty.
Alternatives needed
Top Bengaluru horse trainer S Padmanabhan thinks that the turf clubs, not the government, must hold the reins to the land, saying, "All turf clubs without exception must ensure they either own the land or have alternative infrastructure ready if and when they are asked to shift. Thousands of families' livelihoods depend on this industry which is just not in a position to take a blow like this."
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Different issues
Legal eagle Satish Maneshinde, RWITC member, says that despite some parallels, the needs and exigencies of Mumbai and Bengaluru are "different".u00a0 "Mahalakshmi is a major open space and important from an ecological viewpoint. It is a heritage structure too. There is no reason for the government here to ask Mahalakshmi to vacate. If they do so, it may be viewed as discriminatory under Article 14 of the Constitution. There are golf courses and many gymkhana grounds, so how can they target only RWITC?"
Optimistic outlook
Despite reassurances, Vivek Jain, media and marketing chairman, RWITC, does admit, "Some politicians have talked of usage of the land for projects such as a car park, flyovers... The club and citizens need to be watchful of any attempt to usurp our property." Jain too feels that nothing can choke the green lung of this city "which is used by for recreation by walkers/joggers, people who practise yoga and as a public park with open access".u00a0 He ends optimistically, "I'm sure we have a strong case to convince the Corporation/State for an extension of the lease when the matter comes up in a few years."
With inputs by Prakash Gosavi
u00a0
Builders, politicians eye Mahalakshmi Race Course pie
Some attempts raise concern that the prime South Mumbai area is under threat:u00a0
>>The racecourse was to be given to a builder called Pegasus for 're-development'. Massive protests and people power foiled this attempt.
>>A builder tried to gain a back door entry through the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme.
>>Vijaypat Singhania writes a letter to State Finance Minister Jayant Patil that Mahalakshmi Race Course be shut down.
>>Mayor Shubha Raul wants to turn racecourse into a car park. She also wanted to open a dolphin park
and make it a tourist attraction.
>>Reports that a flyover would run above the racecourse stables filters in.
