40 days on, Garib Nagar families await repairs as monsoon worsens living conditions

Residents living near the open drainage for over a month now following demolition. PIC/ATUL KAMBLE

More than 40 days after 100 legitimate homes in Garib Nagar, Bandra East, were the damaged during the demolition drive, those awaiting rehabilitation continue to suffer as delayed repairs have left many without shelter during the harsh monsoon.

mid-day visited their homes, which revealed the difficult conditions residents are facing. Many alleged that despite repeated directions from the Bombay High Court, the authorities have neither arranged alternative accommodation nor shown urgency in repairing the huts.

Work ongoing

Welding work started by the Western Railway. PICS/ATUL KAMBLE

Residents said welding work by Western Railway (WR) is currently underway to install a protective shade over the affected homes. However, they claimed the work began much later than expected and is progressing at a slow pace, forcing families to continue living in unsafe conditions amid the monsoon.

No electricity

The Bombay High Court had on Monday pulled up the authorities concerned for failing to restore electricity connections to the 100 eligible huts in the settlement. These homes, according to the court's earlier orders, were meant to remain protected from the demolition drive until their occupants were rehabilitated.

‘Authorities had time'

"We have been out here in the open for over 40 days now. Authorities had so much time to either give us alternate housing or repair our homes before the rains started, but they chose to do neither. We are now homeless in these heavy rains, helplessly waiting to go back to our homes," said Mobin Mohammad Salim Shaikh, a resident from an eligible hut at Garib Nagar, who has been living adjacent to a drainage stream and trash heaps for over a month now.

Official Speak

A Western Railway spokesperson said, "We are just repairing the damaged eligible huts. Electricity reconnection responsibility is with the state government officials. We will complete the repair work of the eligible huts in around 10 days. Our repair work includes roofs, floors, walls, doors, and windows that were damaged during the demolition."

Voices

Mobin Mohammad Salim Shaikh, 34,
‘Water is seeping into my house through adjacent walls, and the structure has become weak. When it rains, the floor gets submerged in water. The home is registered under my mother's name, Zulekha Shaikh, and is eligible for rehabilitation. We are out of our legal homes, and we have been putting up with unfairness from officials. We are forced to stay here under this bridge like homeless people during the rainfall.'

Reshma Shaikh, 60,
‘My home is damaged from all sides, and it may even fall. Authorities haven't repaired it yet, and rains have started. We have also received no update on the alternate house. I have a two-month-old grandchild. How can we ensure his safety under this vulnerable structure?'

Irfan Mohammad Shaikh, 28,
‘This is our family's house; the structure got damaged and weak during the demolition drive. I have an 18-month-old baby; how are we supposed to live here? Water gets to our knees when it rains. There's no electricity and no drinking water supply. I am the sole earning member in my family. I can't even go to work now, leaving them behind in the open. Many families have lost their income because they used to earn through shops here, which are gone due to demolition.'

Rehmunisa Aslam Khan, 55,
‘This is my daughter's house - the roof, supporting columns, and the walls were all damaged during the demolition. Rain has started, and they haven't repaired it yet. Water leaks in from all sides. When we asked the repair staff about our home, they said they aren't repairing homes on our line yet. How come they are denying us while our home is eligible?'

Sayyed Harul, 59,
‘This is my son's house. The roof, walls, and gate were damaged during the demolition of adjacent huts, which were ineligible. He has been out of this home since then. We were living under the FOB while awaiting repairs. We finally saw some repairs around a week back, when metal sheets were installed as a roof and walls. There are still gaps that have to be closed, and a door needs to be installed, but the repair guys haven't been back since, so water still leaks in when it rains.'