A legal notice was sent on Saturday to the BMC commissioner, the heads of the SRA and MMRDA, as well as the principal secretary, Housing Department, by advocate Faiyaz Alam Shaikh on behalf of the Govandi New Sangam Welfare Society. MUMBAI: The BMC’s demolition drive against slum structures higher than 14 feet, scheduled to begin from October 1, has drawn its first pushback. Speaking up for the affected slum dwellers, Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh said that the BMC’s move to crack down on such slum structures has put the future of around 34,000 residents at stake.
Pointing out that the 14 feet limit dates back to a 138-year-old law (the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act 1888), when the housing situation was completely different from today, the notice demands that the proposed demolition drive be cancelled. There are 9 million slum residents within the limits of the BMC, and slums occupy 24% of Mumbai’s geographical area, according to the latest report of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA). As per the BMC’s figures, there are 223,150 slum structures within its jurisdiction. Of these, 39,111 are 14 feet or taller.
“Slumdwellers from my own neighbourhood as well as from Bandra started calling me after receiving notices of the proposed demolition of their homes,” said Faiyaz Shaikh. “Development must be constructive; this drive will be destructive, leading to mass displacement and then commercial takeover of land.” Today, three generations live in these one and two-storeyed slum structures, which are erected out of necessity, says the notice and adds that the drive goes against the state’s own policies which ensure protection and rehabilitation of slumdwellers.
“The BJP-Shiv Sena is in power both in the state and in the BMC. MLA Rais Shaikh said the ruling alliance had earlier backed protection for slum structures up to 18 feet in height. During the election period, the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena had taken the position that slum structures up to 18 feet in height should be regularised and that structures taller than 14 feet should receive protection. The common people of Mumbai are now asking why BMC has suddenly launched a demolition drive against slum structures taller than 14 feet from October 1.
This is a betrayal of Mumbai’s residents,” said Rais Shaikh.
