Mumbai’s historic Banganga Tank, which is believed to be linked to Lord Rama’s journey, was the focus of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative by RPG Group.
The conglomerate, through its subsidiary firms CEAT and KEC International, is believed to have allocated Rs 3.3 crore in two years towards the Revival and Restoration of Banganga project. However, as part of the #DeepDive series by The CSR Journal, the effectiveness of this CSR project has been brought into question.
Claims vs Reality
Documents obtained by The CSR Journal have revealed that CEAT Tyres donated Rs 61.75 lakh in 2021-22 and Rs 38.35 lakh in 2020-21 for Banganga Restoration project. And KEC International donated Rs 83 lakh in 2020-21 and Rs 1.46 crore in 2021-22 for the same. The funds were allegedly used for setting up of heritage street lights, benches, information boards, paintings on walls, and a children’s play area.
However, when The CSR Journal’s reporting team visited Banganga, it was discovered that the reality on the ground was quite different. As per the preliminary observations, some of the benches at Banganga were in poor condition. Furthermore, many streetlights at the venue were dysfunctional, and the wiring was exposed which posed a safety hazard. The locals were not impressed by this CSR project. In fact, the residents expressed their disappointment, stating that the project had not led to any meaningful revival or restoration of Banganga.
Local Residents’ Voice
One of the residents named Ashish Tiwari highlighted the safety concerns of the project, pointing out that exposed cables on newly installed lampposts could lead to accidents, which could be fatal. Another resident, Chirag Dave, voiced his frustration over the lack of significant improvement despite the large CSR expenditure. He noted that Banganga had long suffered from neglect, and despite RPG Group’s efforts, its condition had remained largely unchanged.
Following the RPG Group’s CSR initiative, the Maharashtra government has announced a Rs 5 crore budget for Banganga’s development. This raises questions about the impact of the corporate spending: Was the CSR effort merely symbolic? Was public money utilised effectively?
While CSR initiatives are meant to preserve heritage and support communities, Banganga’s case underscores the need for greater transparency, accountability, and tangible results.
