Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan inspected the area on Sunday and announced the formation of the committees. Besides looking into rehabilitation of the affected people, the panels will tackle issues of ownership of the plots.
Following Friday’s fire which gutted at least 700 hutments at Garib Nagar in Bandra, the state government has formed two committees to decide the future of over 2,000 affected residents. Most of them have been rendered homeless after the devastating fire.
Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan inspected the area on Sunday and announced the formation of the committees. Besides looking into rehabilitation of the affected people, the panels will also tackle issues of ownership of plots.
“This mishap has displaced over 1,300 people. The incident is tragic and we have full sympathies for the affected. All efforts will be taken to expedite relief work,” said Chavan.
Government officials stated that one committee will be headed by chief secretary Ratnakar Gaikwad and the other by Guardian minister Mohamed Arif Naseem Khan.
The committee under Gaikwad will have representatives from the railways and the civic body. They will resolve the issue of owners of the plots in Garib Nagar. Railways, BMC and the suburban collector have sporadic share over the plots.
The committee under Khan will present the perspective of those displaced in the incident. “The committee will have local leaders like municipal councillors, MPs and MLAs. They will put forth the needs and demands of the people. The committee will provide a framework on the future of the dwellers — whether they have to be rehabilitated on the same plot or an alternative location,” the officials explained.
For immediate relief, the chief minister has announced an aid of Rs25,000 from his relief fund for every family who lost their shelter in the blaze. Around 14 people suffered injuries in the incident, two among them were firemen.
In 2009, a similar fire in Behrampada opposite Garib Nagar had claimed the life of a child and injured 28 persons. The then municipal commissioner Jairaj Phatak had announced a headcount to curb sprawling illegal hutments in the area. However, no steps have been initiated in this front yet.
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