BMC stops Golibar demolitions

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) halted demolitions at Ganeshkripa Society,Golibar slums,on Saturday citing inadequate police protection. In two days,the BMC has demolished 29 of the targeted 72 houses at Ganeshkripa. “There are 43 houses that are to be demolished. We could not carry on the demolitions on Saturday as we did not have the required number of policemen. We will start the demolitions as soon as we get the additonal police force,” said P Rokade,Deputy Collector,Removal & Encroachment.

Activists,however,said the move came after Medha Patkar went on a hunger strike on Friday. “Medhatai has been on an indefinite hunger strike since yesterday and the administration seems to have relented. The drive has been halted for the next six days,” Datta Mane,resident and activist of Ganeshkripa society,said. Shivalik Ventures and Unitech Group have undertaken the slum rehabilitation project at Ganeshkripa Society.