Bhendi Bazaar, which is Mumbai's first cluster redevelopment, got dragged into controversies.
Last year, when the Hussaini building in Bhendi Bazaar collapsed, it killed over a dozen people and caused a major panic amongst the residents. Bhendi Bazaar, which is Mumbai's first cluster redevelopment, got dragged into controversies. The trust says that it is carrying out the redevelopment and claims that while most of the tenants and landlords have cooperated with them, there are still a few who haven't. However, With monsoon knocking the door, fear of dilapidated old buildings coming down is increasing. Fearing a repeat of last year's tragedy, the developers of the area have issued 600 notices to initiate eviction of non-cooperating tenants in just one year's time.
According to a spokesperson of Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT), "Each year, the monsoon downpours affect thousands of dilapidated structures in the city, with many buildings posing a risk to life.
Last year, a tragic incident engulfed Bhendi Bazaar with the collapse of Hussaini building. This year, in order to alert and sensitise the tenants living in unsafe buildings in Bhendi Bazaar, numerous public interest initiatives have been undertaken by SBUT."
The campaign started off with a 'monsoon awareness walk' where students and youth took to the streets of Bhendi Bazaar to make an appeal to tenants still living in dilapidated buildings. Local MLA Amin Patel was also roped in by the trust, along with the local police and fire personnel who joined the walk and requested the tenants to think practically, not emotionally, and move out of the dilapidated buildings.
Currently, there are over 400 residential tenants, from the conveyed (acquired) buildings, who are yet to shift out of Bhendi Bazaar. A special team has been formed and tasked with a one-on-one engagement process with the tenants. The team is also asked to counsel the remaining tenants to move to safer accommodations.
"Monsoon Alert banners and slogans have also been put up in the area and warning messages have been sent to all remaining tenants to vacate their premises immediately. A public interest video has been made to showcase the importance of life through the journey of Bhendi Bazaar residents who have already been relocated," said the SBUT spokesperson.
Additionally, over 600 notices have been issued by MHADA under Section 95A (MHADA Act, 1976) to initiate the action of summary eviction of non-cooperating tenants. Over 90 per cent of the buildings in the area has been conveyed (acquired) by SBUT. However, more than 25 buildings are yet to be acquired by SBUT. The Trust claims that it is actively engaging with the landlords of these buildings to convey the buildings so that the tenants living in these non-conveyed buildings can also be relocated safely. The trust is also seeking help from government authorities to help deal with these non-consenting landlords.
IN NUMBERS
- 16.5 acres: Total land area
- 250: Total number of cessed and non-cessed properties
- 3,379: Residential units
- 1,386: Non-residential tenants
- 4,765: Families affected by redevelopment
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