Mumbai: The Brihanamumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has made it clear that only 35 of the 325 houses that are part of the demolition in the Garib Nagar slum are eligible for rehabilitation.
“The civic body had already provided 131 families with new houses in 1998, when A.K Marg was widened. They were rehabilitated in Dharavi,” said Alka Sasane, assistant municipal commissioner, H (East) Ward.
But the residents, the BMC claimed, rented their Dharavi houses and returned to Garib Nagar.
“We have houses ready in Mahul, and those who are eligible can collect the keys from us,” said Ms. Sasane.
On Tuesday, the demolition continued without any incident.
Officials said the families who are not eligible for rehabilitation continue to live in makeshift houses.
Rizwana Shahid Sheikh is one of them. “The government claims that those who have been living here before 2000 will be rehabilitated. However, we have been living here for the last 14 years; where are we supposed to go?”
Since last Thursday, Ms. Sheikh has been living in the open with her two children. Locals said those who have families in other parts of the city are trying to move, but for many this option does not exist.
“They should have given them time to evict,” said Faizal Ansari, who was born and raised in Garib Nagar.
Meanwhile, Halim Khan, Shiv Sena corporator, sought compensation for the 1,000-plus affected families. “The 300 multi-storey shanties were home to around 1,200 families. The State government should offer compensation to them.”
The demolition at Garib Nagar is being undertaken in keeping with a Bombay High Court order to remove all shanties along the Tansa water pipeline. The court had set October 30 as the deadline for the BMC to clear all encroachments.
A similar demolition drive has already been carried out in Powai.