“Politics and policy”

With less than 0.03 acre of open space per 1,000 people there is no room to breathe in Bombay, say experts. The city’s pathetic open space to people ratio is already considered by many to be the lowest for any city in the world. In such a scenario, how will Parsis save the Doongerwadi land? This is prime property which land sharks are waiting to grab. Is it possible for the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustees, whenever they are elected, to guarantee that this open forest land alongside densely populated high-rise buildings will never be acquired by future governments?

I have unwittingly ruffled some feathers by stating in my letter "Politics and policy” (Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, October 7, 2007) that the reverend dasturs had "visions of bringing the vultures back to the Doongerwadi, a place which is bursting at the seams. This is wishful thinking!” I have been informed that the aviary project at Doongerwadi is not "wishful thinking” but a project that is ready to take off and that there is no crunch in funds! However, I still have my doubts whether it is possible for vultures to survive and thrive in constricted limits. I was told that the experts were all for the aviary and had given a green signal to the project. Really?

Can this be a long-term solution, or is it just a cussed reaction to the stand of radicals who are hankering for change? One wrong move and pressures will intensify for the government to take over the Doongerwadi property. Would the aviary not add to such pressures? After all, birds cannot be kept in captivity in the heart of a city. Religion has to walk with the times or else time will leave the religion behind!

RODA D. HAKIM

Baroda

vadhakim@yahoo.com