Pay Tansa duct slum dwellers if you can't rehabilitate them: HC to state
The state also said that the government should also rehabilitate people who reside in slums near the airport.
Mumbai: The Bombay high court has rapped the state government for not rehabilitating slum dwellers that were living in a radius of 10 metres of the Tansa water pipeline. The court also said if the state is unable to rehabilitate them, it should pay them money so that they can find a place to stay on their own.
An affidavit was filed on Friday where the chief secretary expressed his inability to find a place for these persons. The state also said that the government should also rehabilitate people who reside in slums near the airport.
“Since the government cannot find an immediate solution by way of accommodating these persons, the only order we can pass is to ask the government to pay adequate amount to each person who has been displaced. This would enable these persons to find a place to stay in the city on their own,” Justice Oka said.
“We direct the chief secretary to consider this solution and file an affidavit,” the court ordered, posting the matter for further hearing in July.
The court was hearing PIL seeking removal of shanties around Tansa pipeline near Santa Cruz. The petitioner expressed apprehension that there is risk of life due to these slums. The HC last year directed the BMC to remove all shanties that falls within the periphery of 10 metres of the pipeline.
The court also directed state government and BMC to rehabilitate eligible slum dwellers to another place.