Mumbai Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar rejected the proposal to move into a bungalow in the Byculla Zoo. Instead, the Mayor has suggested that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation should consider two bungalows on Malabar Hill that now house two Civic Additional Commissioners.
The Mayor’s bungalow is to be given up for building a memorial for Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. Speaking to reporters at his office on Tuesday, Mr. Mahadeshwar said he rejected the zoo bungalow as it fell in a silent zone and did not want his visitors to disturb the animals in the zoo.
“The zoo has to be silent post 6 p.m. and since functions held by us would invariably need loudspeakers, it would inconvenience the animals. This would also hamper the programmes hosted at the mayor’s residence,” the mayor wrote in a letter to the Municipal Commissioner. He also wrote that the size of the bungalow and the parking facilities at the zoo bungalow were inadequate and could inconvenience the VIPs and foreign delegates who visit the Mayor regularly.
He said, “At the zoo, one would not want the first citizen of Mumbai to land up in trouble with PETA(People for Ethical Treatment of Animals.” He also said that he would ideally want a house that is accessible for people to visit him and should be conveniently located.
“The house for the Mayor should reflect the prestige and honour of the office that he holds. Personally, I would not be living for long in that house, but the issue is about the Mayors who would be taking charge later,” said Mr. Mahadeshwar.
