Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market (Crawford Market) issue is by now well understood by many.
Just a recap:
The market is a GRADE I HERITAGE Building and Precinct.
Redevelopment, if allowed in accordance with the proposal of a developer is equivalent to gifting away an amount more than Rs 1000 Crores which the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), i.e. the Public, could very well earn itself and find good use for public good.
The redevelopment, if allowed in accordance with the proposal of this developer, will cause great traffic congestion right in front of the Mumbai Police Headquarters and the market precinct.
Our elected representatives i.e. the Corporators, many of whom had agreed with the fact that such 'gifting' amounted to be nothing short of scam, were either not allowed to get the issue in the house (corporation) for discussion or simply back tracked and followed party directives and did not oppose the motion, which in any case was passed by the house in less time than it takes to snap one's fingers. Fortunately, events took a bit longer time for the house resolution to get clearance and the motion needed to be placed on agenda once again.
The motion is being reopened by a Notice of Motion and it is now scheduled for Monday 10 March 2008. Two political parties, namely the NCP and Samajwadi Party have taken a stand to oppose the motion in the earlier form and prevent the Corporation, i.e the Public, from incurring the scandelous loss by gifting away such large public money to the developer.
The issue is well known to all the corporators and it is hoped that this time around, they will show their integrity and defeat the motion of redevelopment in the form proposed by the developer. They are also aware that citizens are watching.
To ensure that the corporators get the message that Citizens, i.e you and me, are keen to save the Grade I Heritage Precinct and retain the profit acruing from redevelopment with the corporation itself rather than gifting it away to the developer, we the citizens have to remind them that the citizens are watching.
Not every one who wishes to convey to the corporators that they do not wish to get the Crawford Market Redeveloped in the mannar that will destroy the Grade I Heritage Precinct, make the Corporation loose more than Rs 1000/- Crores by gifting the amount to the developer and add very detrimentally to the traffic congestion in the area, can do so where ever they are, unless they wish to join others at the Azaad Maidan. This is planned through WEAR WHITE CAMPAIGN on Sunday 9 March and Monday 10 March 2008.
You would be surprised how quickly the word reaches to representatives that Aam Janata means business and they better discherge their duties honestly.
The latest in the civic campaigns using Right To Information has forced the Govt of Maharashtra to concede by making the Chief Minister's Relief Fund dispersal scrutinisable through RTI. For the past two years they have been trying their best to avoid being transparent on the large sums received by them for relief purposes.
In Democracy, public opinion matters and we need to ensure that it continues to matter at all times.
Participate in the WEAR WHITE CAMPAIGN on 9th and 10th March 2008.
Looking forward to your participation from whereever you are - WEAR WHITE
Sudhir Badami
-------------------------------------------------------
Please read Shailesh Gandhi's note:
The Crawford Market Notice of Motion is slated on the agenda of the Municipal Corporation's house on Monday, 10th March, 2008. Citizens have decided to adopt an extremely simple method of using white to voice our hopes:
1. Wear white clothes on 9th and 10th March. This would represent our hope and faith in the honesty of our elected representatives.
2. Some Citizens who can come, should assemble at Azad Maidan opposite the BMC, from 1.30pm to 2.00pm. on 10th March. After that those who can, will enter the Corporation and stand in groups of three near the offices of the political parties. We will not say or do anything to hinder anybody. Just allow our white clothes to make our statement.
1. A few eminent Citizens will get passes for the Visitor's gallery and watch the Corporators from the visitors gallery.
Our demands and expectations are simple:
1. The Corporation administration and the Corporators should discuss the pros and cons of the proposal in a free and fair manner giving the logic for whatever they are saying.
2. Our hope and request is that they will reject the earlier proposal; and decide to evolve a new proposal safeguarding Citizen's interest.
in the rare event they do not respect our faith,
our white clothes will be a mourning for their dishonesty.
Appealing to all Citizens, PLEASE WEAR WHITE ON 9Th and 10Th March.
Wherever you are.
Requesting Organisations, Colleges, Housing Societies, Companies, Unions everyone
PLEASE WEAR WHITE TO SAVE OUR PROPERTIES.
All concerened citizens, activists and mediapersons are requested to spread this message to all on through various means-emails, articles, letters to editors: Request everyone to participate. We must make our Democracy function and deliver.
AGNI Gerson Da'cunha
Arunkumar Vaidya Rahavasi Sangh Vidya Vaidya
BANDRA BANDSTAND RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
BANDRA WEST RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
BCAS Foundation Narayan Varma
Bombay Catholic Sabha Dolphy D'souza
Citispace; Neera Punj
Clean –Air; Meher Rafaat
Clean Mumbai Foundation Kunti Oza
Consumer Guidance Society of India Dr.M.S.Kamath
F-North Ward Citizen's Federation Nikhil Desai
Flank Road Citizen's Forum Gaurang Vora
Ghar Bachao, Ghar Banao Andolan Simpreet Singh
Giants International Nana Chudasama
H West Ward Citizen's Trust Shyama Kulkarni,
I Love Mumbai Noor Sevwalal
Indian Drama and Entertainment Academy Mujeeb Khan
Juhu Citizens Welfare Group Anand Desai
Kandivli Education Society's College of Arts & Commerce Dr. G.Ramachandran
Khar Residents Association, Anandini Thakoor
Mahiti Adhikar Manch Bhaskar Prabhu
Nagar Nayana Kathpalia
NAPM Medha Patkar;
Nariman Point Churchgate Citizen's Association Swarn Kohli
National College Bandra- Students
Public Concern for Governance Trust B.G. Deshmukh
Rizvi College, Bandra
Roopam Viren Shah
ROTORACT CLUB OF MITIBHAI COLLEGE
Sanctuary magazine Bittu Sehgal
ST. ANDREWS COLLEGE BANDRA.
Women's Graduate Union K.D.Sarkari
____________________________________-
You could use this:
Appeal to Corporators to protect our Properties.
Let us repose our faith in them to prevent giving away over 1000 crores in the Crawford Market scam by taking back the proposal to give it away.
This will also preserve our Grade I Hertitage precinct, the nature of the market and the nightmarish traffic problems which can occur with the present proposal.
As a mark of our faith in their actions, let us wear white (even shirt, and top alone will do), for two days:
9th and 10th March.
This simple gesture could go a long way in persuading the Corporators to heed our plea and save our thousands of crore rupees.
WEAR WHITE CAMPAIGN.
Love
shailesh
All my emails are
in Public Domain.
www.satyamevajayate.info
Mera Bharat Mahaan...
Nahi Hai,
Per Yeh Dosh Mera Hai
Save Public Property Save Your Property: WEAR WHITE CAMPAIGN 9 & 10 March 2008.
