HC worried over Tansa work

Mumbai: The Bombay high court (HC) has expressed concern over the demolition process of slums near Tansa water pipeline in Ghatkopar.

The court while hearing a petition said that if the state government will not provide any alternate accommodation to slum dwellers other than Mahul, then how will the municipal corporation carry out further demolition of slums and make the pipeline secured.

The court was hearing public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an NGO, Janhit Manch, which sought demolition of slums near water pipeline and alleged that these slums are a threat to the pipeline.

Accordingly, last year, the court had directed the Brihanmumbai Munic-ipal Corporation (BMC) to demolish slums in phases. The court had also directed the state to provide alternative accommodation to legal slum dwellers.

The BMC, in compliance with the HC order, has been demolishing all encroachments including unauthorized residential and commercial structures along the Tansa water pipeline that runs across nine administrative wards of the city.

The state government was willing to provide accommodation at Mahul, but slum dwellers refused it saying Mahul was inhabitable due to heavy pollution.

Many residents had filed petitions in the HC and cited green tribunal order, wherein the polluted and inhabitable state of Mahul was mentioned.

The court had then directed state to accommodate them in some other area or pay money, so that the residents themselves can look for accommodation.

The state filed an affidavit stating that, it could only provide accommodation at Mahul and monetary assistance to slum dwellers was not possible.

The court said that if the state government holds such an adamant approach then how would the BMC carry out demolition process in order to make the pipelines secured.

Eventually, the court asked the BMC and the slum rehabilitation authority to file an affidavit over the state government’s stand and kept next hearing on the matter after two weeks.