7,800 slums still to be cleared near pipelines

Mumbai: With the deadline for removing encroachments near water pipelines approaching fast, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) faces an uphill task to demolish them by the end of this year. There are 7,800 hutments still to be removed to comply with the Bombay high court’s directives of razing them before December end.

According to civic officials, the BMC has identified total 16,583 structures, which are within 10 metres of water pipelines in the city. Of them, only 8,783 have been removed so far. They include 8,290 slums, which have been built before the year 2000 thus becoming eligible for alternate accommodation.

“The BMC has expedited the process of demolishing slums near water pipelines and we hope to finish it by the end of this year. Encroachments in five wards – S, T, N, M-West and K-East ward – have been almost cleared. Only three wards – H-East, L and F-North – are remaining where these structures are still remaining,” said Ramesh Bamble, deputy municipal commissioner.

However, slum dwellers’ reluctance to shift to alternate accommodation at Mahul is posing a major hurdle in their rehabilitation, said civic officials.

A few months back, project-affected persons (PAPs) had protested the BMC’s demolition drive, saying that they would not shift to other areas due to lack of facilities and want alternate accommodation in nearby area like Kurla.

“The court has directed that all PAPs should be given alternate accommodation at one place only and not at different locations. Hence we have decided to shift them to Mahul,” said a senior civic official.