MUMBAI: In an atypical move, a group of citizens from Yari Road gathered to protest the civic demolition of an illegal slum colony that has settled upon Versova's mangrove forests mentioning "winter chill". The huts were razed time and again yet continue to spring back on forest land.
The shanties were closing demolished two days ago. On Saturday the citizens of Save Humanity, a brand new formation, gathered to turn harmony with the settlers. "We are not entering the legal aspects of the debate. We are asking that the civic authorities provide these 150 people alternate accommodation on humanitarian grounds. Women and children have been rendered homeless in winter, and in the middle of exam season," stated Ajay Kaul, who runs a couple of educational institutes in Versova. "The Supreme Court stipulates that night shelters be set up for homeless people."
He stated development citizens were bringing food and tea for the displaced. "(Versova beach cleaning activist) Afroz Shah even took two or three children home for a bit as they have exams," Kaul stated. "But we cannot take them all in or give them shelter. That is for the authorities to do."
Another protestor Mehjabeen Supariwala stated the hutment dwellers had voter identification playing cards, electricity and water connections, Aadhaar and ration playing cards, and subsequently must be given right kind rehab homes. "Where were the authorities when they procured all these documents?" she asked.
However, every other group of Yari Road citizens has waged a long fight to evict shanty dwellers who have encroached the 120 ft huge arterial road, squeezing it into 8-10 ft. Those settlers were supplied exchange housing in Malad but refused to shift after local politicians promised them rehab homes in Yari Road itself.
"If the BMC must not evict illegal settlers during winter or monsoon, Ganeshotsav or Diwali, when may it act?" stated one member. "We have satellite images to show that this was lush mangroves just 7-8 years ago. Now it is a designated forest land yet it is slowly being denuded. The nexus between local politicians and certain vested interests in the locality is leading to wilful, proliferating encroachment."
Shashi Ranjan, president of the Yari Road Residents' Association, stated, "This demolition has been undertaken in a lawful manner. It is the duty of citizens to report such wrongdoing and of the authorities to act." The association had invited Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray to this web page closing 12 months and he had assured that illegal settlers would now not be patronised.
The local ward officer used to be now not to be had for comment.
The shanties were closing demolished two days ago. On Saturday the citizens of Save Humanity, a brand new formation, gathered to turn harmony with the settlers. "We are not entering the legal aspects of the debate. We are asking that the civic authorities provide these 150 people alternate accommodation on humanitarian grounds. Women and children have been rendered homeless in winter, and in the middle of exam season," stated Ajay Kaul, who runs a couple of educational institutes in Versova. "The Supreme Court stipulates that night shelters be set up for homeless people."
He stated development citizens were bringing food and tea for the displaced. "(Versova beach cleaning activist) Afroz Shah even took two or three children home for a bit as they have exams," Kaul stated. "But we cannot take them all in or give them shelter. That is for the authorities to do."
Another protestor Mehjabeen Supariwala stated the hutment dwellers had voter identification playing cards, electricity and water connections, Aadhaar and ration playing cards, and subsequently must be given right kind rehab homes. "Where were the authorities when they procured all these documents?" she asked.
However, every other group of Yari Road citizens has waged a long fight to evict shanty dwellers who have encroached the 120 ft huge arterial road, squeezing it into 8-10 ft. Those settlers were supplied exchange housing in Malad but refused to shift after local politicians promised them rehab homes in Yari Road itself.
"If the BMC must not evict illegal settlers during winter or monsoon, Ganeshotsav or Diwali, when may it act?" stated one member. "We have satellite images to show that this was lush mangroves just 7-8 years ago. Now it is a designated forest land yet it is slowly being denuded. The nexus between local politicians and certain vested interests in the locality is leading to wilful, proliferating encroachment."
Shashi Ranjan, president of the Yari Road Residents' Association, stated, "This demolition has been undertaken in a lawful manner. It is the duty of citizens to report such wrongdoing and of the authorities to act." The association had invited Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray to this web page closing 12 months and he had assured that illegal settlers would now not be patronised.
The local ward officer used to be now not to be had for comment.
Mumbai: Yari Road group protests slum demolition
![Mumbai: Yari Road group protests slum demolition]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
February 10, 2019
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