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Battle for Versova beach

The proposal to turn Versova beach into a tourist hub may fall flat as the ground reality indicates otherwise

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Encroachments at Versova beach
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Andheri’s Versova beach has been plagued with slums and encroachment for the longest time. Residents who live around the area can vouch for the messed-up state that the beach has been in all the while. Mamtaa Paida Dey, a resident of Versova, says, “I don’t prefer going to the beach as I don’t feel safe there. There are many people living illegally on the beach and most of these men are drunk.”

A month-old drive

Last month, the beach saw a major anti-encroachment drive for the first time, conducted by K/West ward with MLA Ameet Satam in the forefront. Around 100 shanties were demolished by a team of 200 men in a joint effort carried out by K/West ward and the suburban collector’s office. Post this drive, the state government appointed Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) to work on a proposal that would include developing the three km. long beach into a tourist attraction. The proposal may also include providing facilities for watersports, something which the authorities are hoping will keep the squatters at bay. Leela Jaya, a career counsellor, who stays right near the beach, says, “I haven’t been to the beach for the longest time—the last time when I went there, it was really dirty. I hope that the proposal to turn it into a tourist attraction helps curb the encroachment.”

Reality check

There is one thing that always happens after encroachments are done away with—they come back eventually. And it’s the same in this case too. When we conducted a ground check of the beach, we found that the squatters were back and that slums were being set up once again. Around 50–70 shanties on the beach were already up with people settled in them. While filth, stinky drain water, plastic bags, puja leftovers and garbage are always present, in the evening, when the water starts receding, all of this gets strewn across the beach. This is the present condition of the beach, and that too within one month of the anti-encroachment drive. With no mechanism to keep a constant check, there is barely any hope left. Even if the beach ends up becoming a popular spot for adventure sports, what is the guarantee that it will still be free from any kind of encroachment? Parag Masurkar, Assistant Municipal Commissioner, K/West ward, says, “To keep a constant check on the encroachments is not something the ward can do, it is the job of the cops. Also, that land belongs to the collector so any drive here has to be done along with his office. Next week, we plan to conduct a drive again.”

 

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