Families hit in Damu Nagar fire to get Rs 25000

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday announced that each affected family in the Kandivli Damu Nagar fire would get Rs 25,000 as compensation and the government would bear the cost of treating injured slum dwellers.

Two people died and 12 were injured after a massive fire in the slum, which spread after cylinders in the shanties exploded on December 7.

The CM said in the Legislative Assembly, “Normally, the government pays compensation Rs 3,500 but in this case the government will pay Rs 25,000 to the affected families and will bear the expenses of treatment of those injured in the fire.”

About rehabilitation, Mr Fadnavis assured that if possible the government would rehabilitate all slum dwellers to the same location as the land is owned by the forest department. “If rehabilitation would not be possible on the same plot, then the government will rehabilitate them to a nearby location and the proposal will be made in the next two months,” assured the CM.

The issue had been raised in the Assembly two days ago, by Shiv Sena MLA Sunil Prabhu from Gorgaon. Local MLA Prakash Surve, through a ‘calling attention motion’, demanded that the government should announce special package for the affected slum dwellers. The victims of the fire number around 1,200 families.