Residents of rickety structures cry foul, say they were not told before.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday initiated the eviction process of 320 families residing in four dilapidated buildings in the Tarwadi area in Mazgaon. The civic auhorities have disconnected electricity and water supply to the buildings which are around 90 years old.
Along with 300 labourers, 350 policemen were deployed for the disconnection work. A scuffle had reportedly taken place between the policemen and residents who protested against the BMC action.
“The BMC did not serve any notice intimating us about today’s action,” said Harshad Sandis, a resident of building number 16, who is getting married on Thursday. “Now, I don’t know what to do. The invitation cards have been distributed and the hall has been booked,” he added.
Residents complained that the policewomen deployed there blocked the gate and did not allow anyone to go out. Pravin Rahtod, a resident of building no 14, vehemently opposed the civic body’s move. “How can they just come suddenly and ask us to vacate the building? The BMC has not given us any letter mentioning allotment of an alternative accommodation,” said Rathod.
He demanded that the developer should give them the redevelopment plan in writing. “During the discussions about the redevelopment of the buildings, the developer and the BMC had decided that transit camps for the residents will be constructed nearby the existing buildings. We don’t know what has happened to that. Now they are asking us to move to Mahul. This is unjustified.”
The civic officials said that the buildings have been declared dangerous in 2009. “Since then, the issue was going on and some residents had moved the Supreme Court. The SC directed us to vacate the dilapidated buildings. So, we issued notices to the residents in July and August,” said Sanjog Kabre, assistant commissioner of E ward.
He added that the tenants did not vacate the buildings despite giving them alternative accommodation. “We have given alternative accommodation to 100 families in a nearby transit camp and to others in Mahul. But they refused to go,” added Kabre.
Another senior civic official said: “Some of the residents had moved the Supreme Court over the issue of redevelopment. But they did not pursue the matter of transit camp in their petition. So, now, it is up to them to take up the matter. Since they are tenants of buildings owned by the civic body, we have provided them alternative accommodation as per procedure.”
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}