Mumbai: Expressing concern over the repeated fires at the Nargis Dutt Nagar slums, Mumbai Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Ashish Shelar suspected foul play in the blaze. In a letter written to the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, he has demanded a thorough probe into the fire.
Soon after the fire Mr Shelar tweeted, “I reached to fire at Nargis Dutt nagar! All fire brigade, BMC ambulances, police, traffic police, Tahasildar agency activated! Fire under control. Demanded inquiry why fire always to this slum? Conspiracy? Pancha-nama started! From 2014 demanding action on illegal floors/ construction! (sic)”
In a letter to Mr Fadnavis, Mr Shelar said that there are several illegal multi-storey constructions in the Nargis Dutt Nagar slums. Despite making complaints to the BMC several times, the illegal constructions have continued to grow in the region.
“The redevelopment scheme of Nargis Dutt Nagar slums has been delayed for 20 years. In the 2014 polls, many Bangladeshi people and thousands of bogus voters cards were found in the slums. On this backdrop, there needs to be a detailed probe into the fire incident,” Mr Shelar said.
The plot at Nargis Dutt Nagar belongs to the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) while the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is the planning agency of the area.
A huge fire had broken out in Behrampada-Garibnagar slum area near the eastern side of the Bandra railway station in October last year during a demolition drive carried out by the local civic body. Police had arrested a history-sheeter.
