BRIEF OVERVIEW

Protecting Mumbai's only heritage botanical garden
V.J.B. Udyan - Rani Bagh

The struggle of the Save Rani Bagh Botanical Garden Action Committee

The year 2011 has seen positive developments in the struggle to preserve the 150 year old heritage botanical garden of V.J.B. Udyan popularly called Rani Bagh. In early 2007 we had banded together to protect the botanical garden from the BMC's Rs. 480 crore makeover proposal to establish a large 'international' zoo that would have gutted the botanical garden, home to 3,213 trees of 286 species. It would also have resulted in a steep entry fee hike thus denying access to common citizens.

We are happy to report that after nearly five years of sustained struggle the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) and the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) (whose permission is mandatory for any redevelopment) have unequivocally ruled against the very concept of establishing an "international" zoo and directed that the existing small zoo be renovated without infringing on the space and integrity of the botanical garden. The project cost has been scaled down to Rs. 150 crore - consequently the entry fee will remain moderate and common citizens can continue to enjoy the park.

Milestones of 2011:

Central Zoo Authority (CZA) discards 'international' zoo concept
In January 2011, as part of our routine data-gathering exercise under the RTI Act, we obtained a letter written by the CZA to the BMC where a strict direction was issued to set up a large zoo on a minimum plot of 50 hectares outside city limits (Rani Bagh area: 21 hectares) and the BMC was therefore asked to submit a revised plan. The CZA had finally responded to our repeated representations (including unauthorized construction works and destruction of trees due to debris dumping), and consequently, the earlier conditional approval stood withdrawn.

MHCC issues final guidelines - permits only renovation of existing animal enclosurest
In late January 2011 the BMC submitted a revised master layout plan before the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) for consideration - essentially the earlier rejected plan with a few superficial changes. The CZA diktat to formulate a revised plan and abandon the idea of a large zoo was blithely ignored. We raised several objections at a formal MHCC hearing on February 24, 2011, chiefly, that the plan was virtually identical to the earlier rejected one and that as many as 800 trees were not even plotted on the map thereby rendering any comparative exercise redundant. On March 23, 2011 the MHCC roundly rejected the makeover plan and directed that all pathways remain untouched and that no new animal enclosures be added. Existing animal enclosures could only be renovated; the space and the accessibility of the botanical garden were to be preserved "as it exists today".

Meeting with CZA and Minister of Environment and Forests
In late March 2011 we met CZA officials in Delhi to convince them of our stand. We also met Mr. Jairam Ramesh, the then Minister for Environment and Forests, who issued a strong statement of support and also addressed the press providing a shot in the arm for the struggle to preserve the botanical garden.

CZA directs that botanical garden be preserved and restricts animal enclosures
In June 2011 the CZA severely restricted the number of exotic animals sought to be introduced and issued guidelines for a scaled-down animal collection plan. The master plan now had to be redesigned from scratch.

Redesigned Master Plan
In September 2011 the BMC submitted its redesigned plan before the CZA. We obtained it under the RTI Act and forwarded our observations/objections to the CZA and the BMC. We were happy to note that the plan maintained the primacy of the botanical garden and in keeping with MHCC directives all pathways and the axial planning element were retained. However, we objected to a section of the pathways designated as a 'service road' as the garden area lying beyond it could be rendered inaccessible to the public. In addition, we have protested the proposed construction of 4 buildings housing 116 flats for staff on 'Parcel C' as we strongly feel this area should legitimately be added to garden space. We await a response to our representations and will request a formal hearing with the MHCC once the new Committee is appointed (the previous committee was disbanded after completion of its term).

Vigilance is key
Though we have largely succeeded in our twin objectives of preserving the botanical garden and keeping the entry fee low, we know that there is no alternative to vigilance. We continue securing documents and data under the RTI Act and representing our case before various agencies.

Marking 150 years
In May 2011 the Municipal Commissioner, Shri Subodh Kumar acceded to our request to mark the 150th anniversary (2011-2012) of the heritage botanical garden with a series of events. Though bureaucratic delays have hampered execution we hope to work alongside the BMC to conduct a host of programmes - nature trails, workshops, seminars, publication of educational material and the release of a commemorative postal stamp. Establishing a medicinal and butterfly garden are also on the anvil and work on the former has already begun. So far, we have conducted several nature trails for Municipal school children and published a small information brochure (on this website) as part of the 150 year celebrations.

Join us in celebrating 150 years of Rani Bagh - Mumbai’s largest green open public space!