Mumbai: Anonymous Donor Saves Sanjan Sanatorium for Parsi-Irani Community

Mumbai: An anonymous Parsi donor from overseas has stepped in to prevent the controversial sale of a 2.5-acre sanatorium property in Sanjan, meant for the Parsi-Irani community. The World Zoroastrian Organisation Trust Funds (WZOTF), which owns the Bai Maneckbai P.B. Jeejeebhoy Sanatorium in Sanjan, about 150 km from Mumbai, has announced that the property will not be sold.

The news was greeted with widespread cheer and relief in the community, which had strongly opposed the sale. “A donor (who wishes to remain anonymous) has now graciously committed support to ensure that the sanatorium can remain operational for the next few years without any financial burden to the trust. Therefore, the immediate need to sell the said property at present is not necessary,” the trustees stated on Friday.

Trustees have decided to suspend the process with respect to the proposed auction sale. “We extend our sincere gratitude to the donor, as also to all those who supported the trust in the aforesaid process and regret any inconvenience that may have been caused to any of the bidders and others involved in the sale auction,” the WZOTF added.

Earlier this week, despite strong opposition from within the community, the trustees proceeded with the property's auction and received the highest bid of Rs 8 crore from Chandan Steel. The trust had been forced to consider selling the property due to increasing operational losses and poor occupancy. “The Trust has provided boarding and lodging at the sanatorium at nominal rates to members of the Parsi/Irani Zoroastrian community since the year 2001. Over the last few years, the trust has suffered high operational losses in doing so. Many attempts have been made by the trustees to offset the same, and several avenues were explored in that regard. Since no improvement was forthcoming, trustees were left with no option but to take a decision to put the property up for sale so that the monies being spent on the property, as well as the sale proceeds thereof, can be better utilized for more deserving charitable purposes,” the WZOTF explained.

The trustees had also been simultaneously exploring other ways to ensure that the property need not be sold. Now that a donor has been found, the WZOTF has decided to suspend the sale, ensuring that the sanatorium will continue to serve the Parsi-Irani community for the foreseeable future.