Indian Express 18.11.2009
BMC washes hands of shanties under skywalk
Even after a reminder from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, which owns the skywalk, the civic authorities have not taken any steps to remove the shanties along the footpath. According to a MMRDA official, a letter was sent to the civic authorities requesting them to clear the encroachment. “We’ve written to the BMC about the encroachments to be removed. It is their job to clear it. We will remind them,” said Dilip Kawathkar, Joint Project Director (public relations), MMRDA.
The BMC has, however, said it is not responsible for their removal. “We’re not responsible for removing the encroachments as the road hasn’t been handed over to the BMC. MMRDA and the collector jointly have to take action against the encroachers,” said Umashankar Mistry, Assistant Municipal Commissioner, H-East ward.
The footpath is occupied from the Anant Kanekar Marg police chowky to the BMC toilet block under the skywalk. Sheets of cloth and tarpaulin tied on the pillars divide the shanties.
The people living on the footpath are demanding rehabilitation. “We were asked to temporarily live here by political parties after the fire as they had promised rehabilitation soon,” said Shamshed Bano, one of the encroachers.
