No respite for Mahul residents

Mumbai: Despite the assurance by the housing minister Prakash Mehta, the residents of Mahul are yet to hear the confirmation on their relocation to vacant flats in Kurla. Disappointed by the lack of action on the same within four days, as promised by the minister, the residents have sent more than 2,000 letters to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for giving a final nod to their relocation at Kurla.

Last week, more than thousand residents demonstrated against the inaction on the Bombay high court’s order regarding relocating the project-affected people that have been rehabilitated in Mahul. Housing minister Prakash Mehta on Monday said that within four days, a decision would be taken after discussion with Mr Fadnavis.

“The minister assured us that our grievances will be conveyed to the chief minister and a report will be prepared within four days. However, we have not heard a single word from both on the matter. This shows that the state government is delaying the process of relocating the residents,” said Bilal Khan, a member of Mahul Sangharsh Prakalpgrast Samita, a citizens group working towards relocating the project-affected people that are being shifted to Mahul.

Residents have been urging that since the flats provided in Mahul are not liveable being in the vicinity of chemical industries and refineries, which have led to health problems among the citizens. “It has been more than a year since we have been pleading the state government to shift us. Our children are experiencing health issues like regular coughing and breathing problems,” said Anita Dhevale, another resident of Mahul.

To protest the apathetic approach of the state and BMC authorities towards their rehabilitation, the residents of Mahul formed a three-kilometre human chain in Ghatkopar on Sunday.