A yet to be inaugurated art installation at the Marine Drive promenade has drawn the ire of local residents. The residents, in a letter to the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC), objected to an installation at the promenade, which is a tribute to Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.
The Maharashtra government had notified Marine Drive as a heritage precinct in May and it was also nominated as a Unesco world heritage site.
The Nariman Point-Churchgate Residents’ Association, in its letter sent on September 18, to the MHCC chairman, municipal commissioner and Tendulkar, raised objections to any kind of erection or construction on the promenade. They claimed that arbitrary and ad hoc constructions cannot be permitted at a heritage precinct. Association president Swarn Kohli said, “We have a lot of regard for Sachin Tendulkar and that should not be misunderstood. However, the promenade is not supposed to have any fixtures on it. Earlier, open air gyms came up on the promenade, and now this art installation. One by one, the authorities should not allow the sea view to be obstructed or inconvenience those walking on it.”
MHCC chairman Ramanath Jha said, “We have called for a report on the issue as the committee was not approached about the installation. The committee needs to be informed about any installation at a heritage precinct. The heritage committee will hold a meeting about this.”
RPG Art Foundation, which erected the installation in partnership with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), said, “The initiative is aimed at beautifying public spaces through art installations. The foundation has engaged distinguished artist Jaideep Mehrotra, who came up with his interpretation of ‘Sachin’ (at Marine Drive), and it is a tribute to the iconic cricketer whose home is Mumbai. This initiative is inspired by similar international public art installations which partner city municipalities to create a unique identity for a city.”
A senior civic officials said he had invited the residents’ association to understand their objections. “It is at a bus-stop and not on a walking space. It is an attempt to beautify small green spaces. We have permission from the civic body and will seek permission from the MHCC too,” he said.