Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) operates the Mahalaxmi Racecourse in Mumbai. The racecourse is spread across approximately 225 acres of open land in the midst of the buzzing city. RWITC has leased this land from the Municipal Corporation of Mumbai for 99 years which is expiring on 31 May 2013.
Few of the political opposition parties along with few citizens are urging the state and local government to not renew RWITC’s lease and instead create a public park which is open to all. As a city that never sleeps and struggles to breathe this is their only chance to have a Central Park.
Mumbai is a land locked city and with over 12.8 million people to support, its real estate prices have never been so high. The racecourse’s green open space is a gold mine for several corrupt politicians and real estate barons who are waiting to get their hands laid on them.
Mumbai is one of the most densely populated cities in the world with over 22,000 persons per sq. km. The scarcity of public parks and open spaces are strangulating its citizens. United Nations standards specify over 96 sq.ft. of green open space per person for a healthy living, while Mumbai provides less than 9 sq.ft. After the few privileged have exercised their exclusivity on this piece of land for 99 years. Its now the chance of the common citizen! This offers once in a life time opportunity to its citizens to reclaim and use it for themselves.
Appeal to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra to stop renewing the Racecourse lease to RWITC and develop a public park that is open to all.
Join in the campaign by signing up this online petitions at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/do-not-renew-the-rwitc-lease/
The campaign video link is here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvgQRrYQW0g
Mumbai Outdoors 