Railways resent sops for slums

For the past 15 years the railways have been arguing that encroachment was a state subject, a law and order mismanagement that the state government has to pay for. Maintaining that no encroachment would be allowed, they withheld the no objection certificates8217; NOCs for various slums beside the tracks despite repeated pleas by the state government.

Naik made his statement after a brainstorming session with the state government officials and railway authorities in the wake ofthe Jaybala Ashar mugging and the shootout at Bandra railway station last week.

While Ashar8217;s case and the continued stonethrowing incidents only reinforce the argument to shift out the slumdwellers, it seems to have eluded the minister. In fact, during the meeting more than two railway officials as well as a senior bureaucrat of the state government voiced their concerns over the minister8217;s decision. Naik, however, overruled them.

The announcement assures the requisite NOCs from the railways to those hutment dwellers who live beyond the 10 metre safety zone of the tracks. Once this certificate is issued the colonies become eligible to get amenities like electricity and water supply from the municipal corporation.

The railways had so far maintained that no NOC would be given because it would mean virtual regularisation of the colonies. This would, in turn, harm the resettling and rehabilitation of these people from the encroached land.

Senior railway officials, speaking under condition of anonymity,say that once the amenities are provided to those areas beyond the safety zone, there is practically no way to ensure that those within the safety zone will not use them. 8220;Why would those people who can draw their water from a tap just 10 metres away and even draw an electricity line clandenstinely, ever want to go from there?8221; asks a Central Railway official.

The general feeling among railway officials is akin to a player whose trump card has been exposed. Many feel that the only deterrant for people against encroachment on railway land had been the absence of the amenities. 8220;Now the minister has given these to them on a platter,8221; grumbles an official.

The World Bank, which is funding the ambitious integrated Mumbai Urban Transport Project II MUTP-II, has already asked for the removal of the optimisation of Harbour Line from the first phase mainly due to the 7800 slums along the tracks between Wadala and Mankhurd. The fate of projects like these will hang in balance if the slumdwellers refuse tomove out.

According to a study by the railways, the number of slums along the suburban tracks are 29,800. According to Krishan Lal, advisor to the railways for Mumbai Transport Project Rly, out of these only 14,500 would come under the MUTP projects. With the harbour line out of consideration, the number of families likely to be rehabilitated will come down to just over 6000. 8220;Thus more than 23,000 families would continue to live on railway land illegally,8221; he says.

Naik8217;s decision is being seen in political circles as a ploy to carve out a votebank from amongst the slumdwellers, even if it comes at the expense of the safety of the commuters. The minister had himself run into rough weather during his last election campaign because of the demolition drives conducted in his constituency.

The law and order situation on the railway tracks being suspect, these allegations are likely to hold water. The railway police have registered over 40 stone pelting cases this year with at least one stone beinghurled at a local everyday.

Naik, however, is unfazed by the criticism. He claims that the move has been made on humanitarian grounds. 8220;These slumdwellers have been promised rehabilitation for a long time now, why should they live bereft of amenities that others in the city enjoy, simply because they are awaiting their houses?8221; he asks.

According to him, the rehabilitation schemes are likely to pick up immediately after the World Bank loan comes through and the Union cabinet clears the setting up of the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation. Both efforts are expected to fructify by the end of this year.