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Journalism of Courage
This is an archive article published on February 6, 2024
BMC razes illegal homes in Mumbai’s Govandi area, residents and activists say no notice served
"We received orders to demolish the unauthorised structures. The drive commenced with the demolition of the more recently established structures,” the official added.
Speaking to The Indian Express, an official from the M/East ward, which encompasses, Govandi said, "This is a BMC plot which comes under the Estate department. A lot of unauthorised structures had been built on this BMC-owned plot." (Express Photo)
In a bid to remove illegal encroachments, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday carried out a demolition drive at Govandi’s Tata Nagar.
According to civic body officials, the land is owned by the BMC and the unauthorised structures were razed to make way for a proposed hostel of the BMC.
On Tuesday afternoon, the civic body moved in with bulldozers and razed the unauthorised structures made of tin. Meanwhile, the residents who lived in these structures alleged the BMC had not served any notice to them in advance, leaving them homeless.
Speaking to The Indian Express, an official from the M/East ward, which encompasses, Govandi said, “This is a BMC plot which comes under the estate department. A lot of unauthorised structures had been built on this BMC-owned plot. We have even conducted similar demolition drives in the past but the unauthorised structures kept coming back.”
“We received orders to demolish the unauthorised structures. The drive commenced with the demolition of the more recently established structures,” the official added.
As per residents of the area and activists, the demolition site is home to nearly 300 families, with Dalits, Buddhists and Muslims making up most of the inhabitants.
Jan Haq Sangharsh Samiti (JHSS), a collective of activists, told The Indian Express, “The demolition drive began in the afternoon, when most young people and residents of the area were away at work. When the BMC officials along with police officers arrived with bulldozers, only young children and old people were inside the homes. Being old and young, they couldn’t stand up to the authorities, who were treating them roughly. The residents were not even given time to move their belongings out of the houses before they started demolishing the structures.”
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“The local residents have said they were not given any advance notice before the drive was conducted,” JHSS added.
When contacted, senior officials of the M/East ward remained tight-lipped about the demolition drive.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
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