Mumbai: BMC's demolition drive leaves hundreds homeless before rains

Sunil Chouhan is living on the street with his wife and kids PicsSameer MarkandeThis monsoon hundreds of slum dwellers in Kurla could be left without a roof over their heads after being driven out of their houses in a BMC demolition drive along the Tansa water pipeline Despite preelection promises of rehabilitation by housing minister and local MLA Prakash Mehta two weeks on the displaced families still have nowhere to goFollowing a Bombay High Court order at least 700 hutments were torn down along the Tansa pipeline in Ambedkar Nagar and Bhim Nagar Vidyavihar East between May 13 and 15Residents said they cooperated during the demolition because state housing minister Prakash Mehta who is also the local MLA had promised to give them new homes nearby The promise was made during a BJP rally just ahead of the BMC election But now that the election is done and dusted the residents have been told to shift to Mahul ChemburWe allowed the demolition to happen peacefully because we were promised accommodation in a nearby area Because of this we even voted for BJP in the BMC election said an angry residentAlso readFirst premonsoon showers hit Mumbai brings relief to MumbaikarsBoth the MLA and the local corporator Parag Shah are from the BJP but locals feel cheated by the partyThe netas fooled us during the election It has been more than 15 days since the demolition but none of BJP leaders have even met us Now the minister is telling us to shift to Mahul said another frustrated resident They have refused to move unless they are given homes in Kurla where they can still preserve their old jobs and way of lifeAlso readMumbai is definitely not ready for the rains find Mumbaikars30 years of hard work destroyed in hoursName MangeramDhilod 53Profession MechanicResident for 30 yearsStatus Eligible for rehabilitationIt took me 30 years to build my life but all was destroyed in hours The government is treating us like worms said Mangeram Dhilod who is currently living in a plastic and wood hut on the other side of the roadEven his garage the only source of income for his family of nine has been demolishedThe BMC has allotted land for a shop in Kanjurmarg They want me to live in Mahul and work in Kanjurmarg I will also have to build the garage at my cost We will continue to stay here unless the BMC is ready to rehabilitate us in Kurla he saidNo work polluted air will mean a slow death for usName Pradip Walmiki 34Profession ChauffeurResident for 10 yearsStatus Not eligible for rehabilitationIf we get accommodation in Kurla many of us will not lose our jobs Our wives work as domestic help in the vicinity Mahul has close to no residential buildings and our wives will have no jobs there said Pradip WalmikiBut employment is not the only reason nobody wants to move to Mahul It is surrounded by refineries which causes pollution in the area Living there will lead to a slow death for our children and family members he saidEven now there is no clarity on the rehabilitation plans They should have first rehabilitated us and then demolished the houses It is inhuman of them to force us onto the streetsAlso readMumbai Western and Eastern Express Highways might not be potholefree before rainsThe Rains will wash our entire life awayName Sunil Chouhan 30Profession Tempo driverResident for 30 yearsStatus Eligible for rehabilitationSunil Chouhans two little kids have only just started school but he no longer knows what kinds of life he can give themThey have just started at the local BMC school and now we are being told to shift to Mahul My wife will lose her household jobs too he saidHe added I dont know what kind of life I can provide for them We dont even have a house We are living on the street I am worried that in 10 days the rains will also start If that happens the tarpaulin sheets will collapse within minutes and all our belongings will get damagedAlso readGood news No water cuts this summer as Mumbai lakes have enough waterThis is where my home and my job areName Anil Shinde 51Profession ActivistResident for 25 yearsStatus Eligible for rehabilitationAfter an accident left him disabled Anil Shinde managed to put his life back in order by working as a local activist Living in Vidyavihar for 25 years has given him strong grassroots connections in his work which he doesnt want to give up by moving to Mahul Due to the accident I cant walk properly It will be very hard for me to travel from Mahul to my office in Vidyavihar every day My wife will also lose her household jobs and we will have no income left he saidNo one is thinking about the fact that we will have to start from scratch again