Landslide warning: BMC officials to visit slums, sensitise residents to relocate

The two wards cover Mankhurd, Shivaji Nagar, Govandi and Bhandup and Vikhroli areas in the eastern suburbs of the city. These wards have a significant portion of hills in and around them and the base as well as the slopes of these hills are at present being encroached by slum dwellers.

“Most of these encroached areas are lands that belong to the state government or the collector’s office. Even though we do not own these lands, we are making an effort to ensure these residents relocate to safer places at least during the rain. Most of them have been living here for decades and resist relocating,” said an official.

In August 2021, two landslide incidents were reported in Mahul and Vikhroli in which 29 people lost their lives. In the Mahul incident, 19 people died, while 10 people died in Vikhroli. Both these places fall under the S ward and M/E wards.

Civic officials said that as a precautionary measure, the local ward offices have also earmarked local schools and community centres that could serve as backup residential units in case of a natural calamity.

“We have created a designated team of ward officials who would visit these slums over the next one week and sensitise them about the danger of living around the slopes. At present, there is no local body in the civic body, so civic officials are doing this job,” said the official.

However, the official maintained that it is not BMC’s responsibility to provide the occupants with alternate housing.

“We cannot force anybody to relocate, nor can we provide alternate housing to them as these are private slums. Therefore, if any loss occurs due to natural calamity, the civic body is not to be blamed,” the officials said.