3 min readMumbaiApr 5, 2011 02:32 AM IST
First published on: Apr 5, 2011 at 02:32 AM IST
A month after a major blaze gutted over 1,200 shanties at Garib Nagar in Bandra (east) and while the state government and railway authorities remain unclear about the issues of land ownership and rehabilitation of those whose homes were burnt down,over 400 dishoused families have slowly started rebuilding their homes.
This time,instead of the tin houses,residents are setting up a modular slum settlement of sorts,with houses made of prefabricated sheets of a cement-sawdust mixture that are fixed along iron slots or channels. The temporary but robust structures are fireproof and can be assembled in a short time,residents said.
While most of the tenants have moved out after the fire,owners or the protected slumdwellers have found it difficult to continue to live under tarpaulin sheets and have taken upon themselves the task of rebuilding their shelters,utilising a major part of the compensation they received under the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Each family had received about Rs 25,000.
Salim Sayyed,member of the Ekta Welfare Committee set up by the residents of Garib Nagar,said it is becoming increasingly difficult for families to stay without a proper shelter.
“A few children have suffered sun stroke. In such a scenario,we have no option but to start making our houses again. Who knows how long it will take for the Railways,Fisheries Department and the Collector to collectively work out a policy to rehabilitate us?” said Sayyed.
Instead of tin sheets,they are now using thick sheets made up of cement and saw dust called Bison Boards or cement-bonded particle board,giving the matchbox units a uniform look. About 10 houses have already been built. The sheets are made of 60 per cent cement and 40 per cent sawdust,said members of the committee.
“One sheet costs about Rs 1,800 and we will need approximately Rs 50,000 to build one house. The total amount required to build 400 houses is close to Rs 2 crore. A part of this money is being generated from the relief fund,while the rest will be generated from donations from individuals,mosques in our community,etc,” said Sayyed. He added that if the flow of funds is smooth,all the houses will be built over the next two months.
About 400 shanties,each having three units (ground plus two storeys) stood on the land adjacent to the harbour line tracks at the Bandra railway station. The ground floor structures are occupied by the owners,who rented the upper floors to tenants.
Meanwhile,the Western Railways is rebuilding the footover bridge that collapsed during the fire. Thousands of commuters are seen crossing the tracks these days since the second FOB is further north towards the Bandra terminus,at some distance from the access road.
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