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Kalina locals, Mhada in open space showdown

Residents slap legal notice on senior officials of housing authority

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The transit camp is infringing on open space in Kalina, Santa Cruz
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The Vice-President and Chief Executive Officer of Mhada were slapped a legal notice by residents of Kalina, who have been fighting for open space in their neighbourhood. The notice directs Mhada officials, who the residents allege are dilly-dallying in providing open space, to restore the open space, demolish the transit camp that is now illegally occupied and a builders sales office, and terminate the lease that allowed temporary transit accommodation to come up on open space as it now amounts to contempt of court.

The notice threatens penal action under sections 217 and 218 of the IPC, which pertains to officials acting against law, on all concerned officials of Mhada, if the apex public body fails to heed the request.

The ground situated opposite KES School in Sundar Nagar, Kalina was reserved for a recreation space in the development plan of 1991. The same ground was given to the school with the intention of allowing children and adults to use it. In 2005, Mhada handed over the premises to Sundar Nagar Union Co-Operative Housing Society on lease to construct a temporary transit camp when they went into redevelopment. "How could Mhada hand over the land for a transit camp? Temporary ones were supposed to come up instead of those currently there. The redevelopment and shifting of original tenants was complete over six years ago. Three individuals embroiled in a court case with the builder are there. What's happening now is illegal occupants have moved into the place due to the presence of a land mafia in the other 24 units," said Clarence Pinto, one of the three people who has served the notice jointly. The others include Charles D'Sa and Manohar Khade.

One of the occupants of the transit camp, Amarjeet Kaur, said they were not aware about the complaints registered by the residents. "The local land mafia here has been selling the place to people in connivance with officials. They have been told to say builders gave them the accommodation," said Khade.

...& ANALYSIS

  • The issue highlights the lack of response from authorities.
     
  • Mhada should have ideally ensured that the open space was not used. It should have restored it sooner as children and adults were to use it.
     
  • Lack of open spaces is one of Mumbai’s greatest failings.
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