184 families hold protest in front of CIDCO office

On Monday, 184 residents from Digha tied black ribbons over their mouths and held a protest outside CIDCO office from 10 a.m. demanding regularisation of four housing societies, which they were asked to vacate last year.

The Bombay High Court had declared the buildings illegal based on a PIL filed by RTI activist Rajiv Mishra and ordered the residents to leave the premises in February 2017. The court has now asked CIDCO to decide by April 6 if it intends to regularise or demolish the illegal structures: Amrut Dham, Durgamata Plaza, Datta Kripa and Avdut Chaya.

Surendra Kadam, one of the protesters, said, “I bought a one-room-kitchen flat for ₹10 lakh in 2005 and gained possession of it in 2007. But the builder had forged all the documents and cheated us. We have been staying in the flat for the past 10 years and paying taxes to CIDCO.”

He said all residents of the four housing societies have been living outside on rent for the past one year. He said the families were finding it difficult to pay rent and EMI on the flat. Mr. Kadam said, “We don’t want to become homeless. We are ready to pay the penalty. We won’t end our protest till CIDCO authorities give us a written assurance.”

Sunil Naik, a member of Shramik Mukti Dal, said, “The protesters have covered their mouths with black ribbons to symbolise their inability to voice their problems. They want justice as they themselves are victims of fraud. CIDCO was collecting property tax and it is unlikely that they were not aware of the fraud.”

Mihan Ninave, CIDCO PRO, said, “We have received the residents’ application. We will study it and file a reply in the High Court on April 6.”