Locals trek from Nehru Nagar to Azad Maidan, demanding authorities scrap plans to shift more residents into already overcrowded area; the walk was organised to oppose the proposed relocation of people from Dharavi to the Mother Dairy land
The Kurla residents during a peaceful protest at Azad Maidan. Pic/Ashish Raje
Residents of Kurla’s Tilak Nagar and the areas surrounding Mother Dairy land held a protest walk from Nehru Nagar (East Kurla) to Azad Maidan on Thursday. The walk was organised to oppose the proposed relocation of people from Dharavi to the Mother Dairy land.
Residents have long complained about the congestion in their locality. “When the area is already so crowded, the plan to relocate people from Dharavi doesn’t make sense. Living here is already difficult due to the population, and this move will only make things worse for us and for those who will be relocated,” said Kiran Pailwan, who led the protest walk.
According to Pailwan, the land was earlier under the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), with about 40 families living in each building. Now, he says, the number of families has more than doubled, making even walking on the roads in the evening a challenge due to heavy congestion.
Pailwan also claimed that all their letters to the authorities have been ignored. “We’ve raised our concerns repeatedly since the relocation plan was announced, but no one has paid attention. We’ve run out of options — that’s why we decided to walk all the way here,” he said.
Another major concern is the environmental impact. The Mother Dairy land houses between 1100 to 1300 trees, all of which would be cut down once redevelopment begins. “The authorities once promised us a garden here, but now we’re only getting buildings. We’ve accepted that our area is congested, but now we also have to give up our oxygen,” said Sandeep Etam, a Kurla resident.
The walk was meant to conclude at the Chief Minister’s residence in Malabar Hill, but was stopped by police at Azad Maidan. “First, they ignore our letters, and now they’re stopping us from holding our elected officials accountable. We’re not against development or redevelopment. We just don’t want to lose our peace in the name of progress,” Etam added.
Pailwan and the protesting residents are demanding better planning from the authorities — one that ensures improved living conditions for both the current residents and the families who are to be relocated.
mid-day reached out to the Adani Group for comment but received no response till press time.
1300
Approximate no. of trees on the Mother Dairy land
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