Slums flattened,500 displaced

The slum has seen political activity during elections. In the 2007 civic polls,Eknath Mote who became NCP corporator had polled 240 votes here and so had his nearest rival Shyam Lande.

The slum has been also home to criminal activities with 25 murders recorded over the years. But several residents have been known for their honesty and hard work.

Usha Jadhav,who ran a tea stall in the area which ensured her family’s survival,said,“I have 10 family members,we have been given a 10 by 10 hut. But they have not told us anything about our future.” Jadhav said they had been living at the slum for over two decades. Mohan Sawant said two of the hutments that housed eight members were razed. “I have no clue whether they will give us a new house,” he said.

The PCMC has said it will rehabilitate slum-dwellers who have photo-passes. Municipal Commissioner Asheesh Sharma said that around 125 families living there before 1995,would get a 269-square feet flat under the Slum Rehabilitation Act. “…Slum-dwellers will have to pay only ten per cent of the flat amount,” the civic chief said. Sharma said PCMC will take only 10 per cent of the construction cost. “Each flat owner will pay Rs 32,000 to Rs 40,000. If they can’t,we will help them get a loan. But they will have to pay 10 per cent of this amount,which comes to around Rs 4,000,” he said.

PCMC joint city engineer M T Kamble said that those who were given “photo-passes” during the slum census in 1987 will be eligible for the flat. “The number of such families is around 125,” he said.