Gymkhana representatives from south Mumbai have been called to discuss the increase in lease rent, and clear ambiguity over holding programmes other than sporting events on government land
Representation pic
The City Collector and the District Magistrates office has called a meeting of 13 South Mumbai gymkhanas/grounds representatives today (Wednesday) afternoon at the Collectors office in SoBo, to dispel ambiguity over the revised fee of renewal of lease of the Gymkhanas. A recent GR has cited substantial increase in rents for gymkhanas and grounds across the city.
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The 13 invitees to the meeting are: Cooperage ground, Wood House Gymkhana at Colaba, the Western India Football Association (WIFA) at Cooperage, Mumbai's swish Bombay Gymkhana in the news for a host of reasons, the slew of Gymkhanas on the Marine Drive, Parsi, Islam, Hindu, Wilson College Gymkhana, the Grant Medical College Gymkhana, Police Gymkhana and Catholic Gymkhana. Several of these gymkhanas have been accused of holding more weddings than sport on their grounds by irate members who are afraid of being named and consequently losing their membership. Representatives from The Cricket Club of India (CCI) once dubbed the Controversial Club of India but now enjoying a relatively quieter life and the Indian Medical Association ground has also been called.
The topic for discussion is, the notice for the meeting sent to all Gymkhanas says: Land – Mumbai City.
It reads; 'Regarding charging revised fee of renewal of lease of the gymkhana and programmes other than sport on the government's land.'
City collector Sampada Mehta simply said that, "We have called a meeting of all the gymkhanas to discuss the latest GR outlining the lease renewal policy." Mehta refused to elaborate on the worrying aspect of programmes other than sport on government land, simply saying that, "we will address the concerns if any."
The Gymkhanas, most of which fall in SoBo are divided into 'A' 'B' and 'C' grades in the new GR. One learns that the rents are going to be hiked substantially but there is still a lot of ambiguity because of the technical lingo in the new GR and that may be one reason why Mehta and officials have found it necessary to call in the Gymkhanas for a meeting.
Bombay Gymkhana president Darius Udwadia had said earlier when asked about revised rents, "I believe there has been an increase in the lease rent amount. We have just received a document, it was in Marathi, so it is being translated and the fine print looked at. It is too early to say how we are going to tackle the increased rent amount. From a first glance, I think we have a 4 per cent increase every year, though this is just from a cursory glance. They seem to have divided the gymkhanas into 'A' 'B' and 'C' class according to the area they occupy.
We obviously fall into the 'A' category, so I believe the hike will be significant. It is early days yet to comment on the way forward for the club, though."
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