Before CM’s visit, Mahul residents protest outside Chembur arts centre, Five detained

“They have been demanding for safer housing since Mahul has high level of pollution,” Khan said.

Khan was one of the protesters outside Chembur police station on Sunday.

Mahul residents have been staging dharna since October 28 in Ambedkar Nagar area of Vidyavihar.

Anita Dhole Patil, one of the 600 protesting residents, said, “There are 16 chemical factories and three refineries in the area I live. We can feel the polluted air and water.” Patil was provided that site by government a year and half ago.

Patil lives with her parents in Mahul, before that her parents had lived in Vidyavihar near Tansa pipeline for 50 years.

Towards October end Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) proposed to rehabilitate 300 tenements as part of its first phase. Residents, however, claim that there are 5,500 families in total that need rehabilitation.

Mahesh Limbakiya, whose father died of tuberculosis shortly after moving to Mahul, says he has been sitting in protest entire day and night since a week now. Limbakiya, a welder, said, “We protested even when we were asked to move by government two years ago. Living in Mahul is a slow death, the air is poisonous.”

He added that attempts to get support from local politicians has failed. “Every household in Mahul’s rehabilitated area has an ill family member,” Limbakiya added.