BMC demolishes illegal hutments along Powai footpaths
Even as civic officials pointed to the HC order, the drive has drawn flak with activists pointing to a government resolution that prohibits demolitions during the monsoon (June 1-Sept 30).
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Speaking to The Indian Express, a senior official from the BMC’s local ward office said that even as the demolition was slated for August 18, the drive was deferred to Wednesday owing to heavy rains. Between August 16 and 19, for the record, over 850 mm rain battered Mumbai.
THE BRIHANMUMBAI Municipal Corporation on Thursday launched demolition of unauthorised hutments along Powai’s Central Ave footpath, rendering at least 60 families bereft of home amid rain in the city. The demolition was launched in light of the Bombay High Court directive, which called the BMC to clear the hutments along the Powai footpath.
Even as civic officials pointed to the HC order, the drive has drawn flak with activists pointing to a government resolution that prohibits demolitions during the monsoon (June 1-Sept 30).
Speaking to The Indian Express, a senior official from the BMC’s local ward office said that even as the demolition was slated for August 18, the drive was deferred to Wednesday owing to heavy rains. Between August 16 and 19, for the record, over 850 mm rain battered Mumbai.
“The court had ordered us to demolish the hutments at the earliest. We had issued them a notice on August 14 telling them to evacuate the premises by August 18. Since there were rains, we postponed the action, and the demolitions were carried out only on August 21 after the rains receded. We had arranged transportation for them to drop them to nearby alternative drop points. Since they were encroachers, the BMC doesn’t have the authority to provide them alternative accommodation since the municipal bylaws say that only Project Affected Person (PAP) are eligible to get alternative accommodation,” said an official.
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