Mumbai: The residents of the Shastri Nagar slum in Bandra West are embroiled in a standoff with authorities over impending demolition notices served by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
The notices, pasted on Tuesday, have left the residents on edge, as they brace themselves for the demolition of their homes slated from May 27 to 31. The demolition exercise is purportedly part of a slum rehabilitation scheme, alongside nallah-widening and road-widening initiatives. Expressing their discontent, a resident conveyed, “We are not opposed to redevelopment, but the lack of clarity regarding our housing arrangements is deeply concerning.” The crux of their grievances lies in the outdated redevelopment agreement signed over two decades ago with a builder for a Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) project in 2002. Residents lament the absence of updated plans delineating the timeline and specifics of their rehousing. The ambiguity surrounding their promised housing exacerbates the residents’ predicament, compounded by discrepancies between the initially stipulated dwelling size of 225 square feet and the revised SRA norms mandating 315 square feet. Moreover, the failure to initiate construction within the agreed-upon timeframe, which elapsed in 2005, has further fuelled their apprehensions.
The slum’s landscape is marred by the remnants of last July’s demolitions, with rubble strewn haphazardly amidst inhabited dwellings. Residents decry the manner in which the demolitions were carried out amid adverse weather conditions, alleging negligence and insensitivity on the part of the authorities.
As tensions escalate and uncertainty looms over the fate of Shastri Nagar’s residents, calls for transparent dialogue and equitable solutions echo within the community. The standoff underscores the urgent need for proactive engagement between stakeholders to address longstanding grievances and chart a course towards sustainable urban development that prioritises the welfare of marginalised communities.
