22 June,2026 07:20 AM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MS
The spot, as it was about half a decade ago, where anti-social activities would allegedly take place
Residents of Ghatkopar's Pant Nagar have transformed an open space into a garden by independently sourcing corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds from businesses in the neighbourhood. Locals claimed that since 2011, they had prevented several plans that received no-objection certificates from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) to construct amenities in the open space that they felt were not required, including a sabhagruha (community hall) and a balwadi (nursery).
The open space that was transformed by the Jade Garden Association of Societies in Pant Nagar, Ghatkopar, after it was reopened. Pics/By Special Arrangement
After winning the battle, residents of buildings surrounding the space, comprising 250 to 300 flats in total, formed an association named Jade Garden Association of Societies, decided to carry out landscaping and build a track for joggers and walkers, and a play area for kids. The garden was inaugurated on June 14.
Residents said that the space used to be an unofficial dumping ground, and people from nearby areas would use it for anti-social activities and to get intoxicated after dark. " Once, a man tried to douse his female relative with petrol there," a local alleged.
A resident said, "When we decided to do the landscaping, several residents chipped in to create a beautiful and vibrant space for locals. Some contributed by sourcing rare saplings for the plot. We now have kadamb [burflower] and golden shower [cassia fistula], trees with beautiful yellow flowers, and chameli [jasmine] vines."
The plot has been marked as a recreation ground (RG) in BMC's Development Plan 2034. While the residents did not know the exact area of the space, they said it is at least 150 metres in length from the entrance to the end of the plot. The plot had been in the possession of MHADA till about 2015-2016, according to accounts from residents, and was transferred to the BMC for upkeep and maintenance.
>> A walkway
>> A children's play area
>> Benches
>> Rare saplings
2011-2012: When the plot was in the possession of MHADA, an NOC was given to develop a balwadi, sports complex, and community hall on the ground
What residents did: They set up a group named HIGMIG Unity and approached the office of then-Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to scrap the project. The project was cancelled, and the plot was fenced with the help of MLA funds.
2020: After MHADA handed over the plot to the BMC, the civic body decided to shift a local market to the open space, to ensure the maintenance of social distancing amid the pandemic.
What residents did: They met then-Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta and requested that the plan be cancelled. The plan was then put on hold
Since 2020: The societies surrounding the open space have been undergoing redevelopment. Residents started sourcing CSR funds to restore the spot earlier this year.
Anita Atitkar, resident
âI am really proud of what we have managed to achieve with this RG plot. It used to be a mess fraught with illegal activities. It has taken us over a decade to put up a fight, but now we have a beautiful open space. I would term this a major battle with authorities looking to encroach on the plot, and the residents successfully saved an open space in the end'
