The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Sunday (May 17) cancelled its plan to turn the iconic Wankhede Stadium into a facility to be used for quarantine amid COVID-19 pandemic after local residents opposed the move.
The BMC, in a letter issued by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) last Friday (May 15), had sought immediate handover of the stadium for housing asymptomatic high-risk contacts and emergency staff of 'A' Ward.
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Kishori Pednekar, the Mumbai Mayor, visited the stadium on Saturday (May 16), tweeting later that the 2011 World Cup final venue would be used to house asymptomatic positive patients in wake of the growing number of positive cases in the city.
But in a turn of events, local residents started opposing the move and the Marine Drive Residents’ Association wrote a letter in this regard to Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta. After which, assistant Municipal Commissioner of 'A' ward, Chanda Jadhav, confirmed that the plan has been cancelled.
While speaking to reporters during his visit to Sion hospital, I.S. Chahal, the Municipal Commissioner, said he was surprised by the news reports of Wankhede turning into an isolation hub, which also triggered speculations regarding the letter that was sent.
"I am surprised about Wankhede news reports," Chahal was quoted as saying by Sportstar. "I had already taken a decision last week, I don’t know where the news is coming from. I am surprised because the CM had ordered me that setting up facilities in open grounds will lead to a lot of issues during the monsoon, as there will be muck."
"There are so many parking facilities which can be used including parking lots of airports, Palladium mall, multi-level parking lots. When we have all these, why should we erect these huge pandals on grounds, especially with monsoon around the corner?"
"So there is no such consideration and no stadium will be taken. Open grounds are not a good option."
After this, Sanjay Naik, the secretary of the MCA, said: "We have not heard from BMC since the letter."
"The residents will definitely be happy as there are a large number of senior citizens in this area," stressed Ashok Rao, the president of the Federation of Churchgate Residents.
When the letter was issued and the news regarding it broke out, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut had tweeted: "All resources need to be utilized in Mumbai to fight against #Covid_19india.good call on taking up wankhede stadium to develop a quarantine facility..suggestion to @OfficeofUT - why not take over Brabourne stadium as well?It has much needed facilities @PawarSpeaks @AUThackeray"
However, Cabinet Minister told him, "Sanjay ji, we can’t take the grounds of the stadiums or playgrounds because they have a mud base and they won’t be usable during monsoons. An open space with a solid/ concrete base is usable and it’s being done already."
Later, Mr Raut tweeted that "the decision to not have COVID-19 hospitals on Wankhede or Brabourne is a correct policy by Aaditya Thackeray. Playgrounds must be saved."
(Inputs from Sportstar)
