Digital Desk: During the COVID-19 shutdown, around 20 members of Islam Gymkhana accused its administration of unlawful chopping and pruning of decades-old trees, as well as enormous unauthorised development. They also claimed that the club encroached on an area near the compound walls of the Marine Lines train station, obstructing efforts to put out a fire on January 9. According to official records, the BMC had to use 14,000 litres of water to extinguish the blaze during the quiet event. The members alleged that the Marine Drive police, the BMC, and the Collector ignored their complaint.
The collector's land is home to the Islam Gymkhana. However, without requesting official approval, the administration engaged in malpractices and unlawful constructions, which accelerated during the lockdown. "The president, Yusuf Abrahani, a former MLA from Govandi, is the key person involved in these unlawful works," claimed Mohammed Ashraf A Karim Kapadia, a lifelong member of the century-old gymkhana.
He alleged, “Whenever we opposed the management’s nefarious decisions, Abrahani used his political clout to neutralise the complaints.
“More than six massive decades-old trees were on the premises of Islam Gymkhana, but they were either cut down or lopped off by the management. This was done with the help of an agent of the BMC who in return got the membership of the gymkhana.”
"This was done so that one of the management members could start a juice bar, and the trees were an impediment. Two of the trees that were cut down were almost 50 years old. I've also learned that the Gymkhana has paid the agent Rs 1.50 lakh per tree in cash/cheque for managing the BMC, local police, and the collector's office," he added.
Shamsherkhan Pathan, a social activist and retired assistant commissioner of police, told midday that the collector's land was handed to Islam Gymkhana on a lease with the express condition that no building be done. "Any structural alterations must be approved by the collector." Furthermore, more than 25% of the gymkhana's revenues must be given to the government."
"However, once the new administration came over around three years ago, it engaged in rampant unlawful building and syphoned off money." We brought these difficulties to the attention of the authorities, and the BMC was even obliged to remove several structures in response to a recent high court decision."
"However, the management continued to engage in unlawful constructions," Pathan stated.
He said that management does not even notify the collector about the functions, which is required. "Even during the lockdown, when all gymkhanas were closed, Islam Gymkhana generated a lot of money, but the money was not shared with the government. I prepared a list of the programmes that were held there and estimated the cost, which was around R16 crore. I notified the collector, but nothing has been done," Pathan claimed.
Collector Rajeev Nivatkar stated, "We have received the complaints. I've formed a single inquiry committee. I shall take legal action against the accused as soon as the report is delivered to me."
On January 4, the BMC issued a letter to the Marine Drive police station addressing a report of tree chopping, according to mid-day.
"We received the letter, but we do not maintain the list of trees," a Marine Drive police officer replied. It is the BMC's responsibility. "How will we know whether the trees have been felled or limbs have been severed?"
WR is conducting an enquiry into the alleged encroachment based on a complaint made with its headquarters in Churchgate. WR Divisional Railway Manager G V L Satyakumar said, “I will have to check with the engineering department, as there are a lot of encroachment issues along the railway boundaries on both the sides, between Churchgate and Mumbai Central.”
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