Sunday evening spelt celebrations at Patwardhan Park in Bandra West as locals, activists, green warriors, Patwardhan Park flag bearers—give them any and all labels—came together to mark a save the park success. Earlier this month, the BMC backed down from its plans to convert a portion of the garden which is located at Linking Road opposite National College, into a car parking lot. The project tender was scrapped after locals fought for more than a year to get the decision scuttled and save the space. Bandra West MLA Ashish Shelar first hinted at this decision during a flag hoisting ceremony on August 15 and then, as locals wondered whether this ‘hint’ was only some words in the air, there was definite news that the car park proposal was scotched on September 10 to the elation of those who were part of the good, green fight.

Varsha Gaikwad (second from right) from Congress and Shiva Sena (UBT)’s Priyanka Chaturvedi (right) say drum’s the word at this green bowl. Pics/Shadab Khan