Six months after the state government announced that it would take back 29 open spaces still under the care of private trusts and NGOs, the civic body is still dragging its feet. Activists have alleged that this is because most of these grounds are under the control of senior BJP and Shiv Sena leaders.

Last year, after severe criticism from activists and citizens, the civic body had initiated action to take back all 216 open spaces that were given to various NGOs and trusts for maintenance under the controversial adoption and caretaker policy.