“Use space effectively”

In response to Capt (retd) J. P. Aga’s letter "Use space effectively” (Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, September 2002) I seek to clarify that the Poona Parsee Panchayat (PPP) does not own or manage any of the agiaries in Poona or elsewhere. All the agiaries are managed by their private trusts which have no concern with the PPP. There are only three adarians in Poona which house a population of approximately 7,000 to 8,000 Zoroastrians.

As far as housing is concerned there is not a single newly married couple or a couple on the threshold of marriage having been refused accommodation by the PPP in the last two years.

In fact in the new Bai Maneckbai P. B. Jeejeebhoy Buildings constructed by the PPP at Lullanagar, one of the posh areas and within the heart of Poona city where all amenities and facilities are available, 114 flats have been allotted on leave and licence basis to all the needy and deserving applicants including couples who were waiting to get married or have got married recently. Some of these couples have also delivered children after they came to reside in our buildings.

This would not have been possible without the generous donations received from the trustees of the Bai Maneckbai P. B. Jeejeebhoy deed of settlement funds who have funded the entire project of four buildings comprising of 236 flats, each having an area of 720 sq ft built-up area with latest and modern amenities and for a meagre licence fee of Rs 500 per month. What more can the youth of our community or even any other members of our community ask for in these days. Moreover, the completion of the buildings, comprising of 236 flats took place in a span of three years, and without any hiccups or litigations.

It is a fact that the PPP owns and manages the two dakhmas in Poona. But it is wrong to state that only one dakhma is used since the other has no parking space for cars/scooters. There is abundant open lands surrounding both our dakhmas and no shortage of parking space. We alternately use one dakhma at a time since the other has to be closed for drying and cleaning.

DARA K. IRANI

Trustee and vice chairman

Poona Parsee Panchayat