Govt scheme to rid pavements of shanties
Yogesh Naik I TNN

Mumbai: The state government is planning a scheme, Mahatma Gandhi Path
Kranti Yojana, under which the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development
Authority will clear pavements of shanties after providing alternative
accommodation to the occupants. Once cleared, the Municipal Corporation of
Greater Mumbai (MCGM) will beautify the footpaths.

    "The slums on the pavements along P D'Mello Road, Tulsi Pipe Road and
other areas are a disgrace to the city. It's shocking that the civic
authorities have let these slums come up on pavements which are meant for
pedestrians. The MCGM is not serious about removing these structures,'' said
a senior Mantralaya official.

    The scheme was formalised by the All-India Institute of Local Self
Government, Mumbai, and senior government officials have extensively debated
over it. A government resolution is expected to be issued shortly.

    According to MMRDA surveys, there are about 25,000 shanties on the
pavements in Mumbai. Initially, this project was to be handled by the
housing department, but later the empowered committee for Mumbai's issues
directed the MMRDA and BMC to take charge. "We are also planning to
introduce private participation in the project,'' said an official of the
institute for local self-governments.

    The officials said P D'Mello Road, which runs along the harbour railway,
will be the first one to be taken up under the scheme. Footpaths on either
side of this arterial road have been encroached upon by slumdwellers. They
have even occupied an entire lane of the road which is used by heavy
vehicles from the dock. A large number of illegal migrants from Bangladesh
have found refuge in these slums and indulge in thefts.

    Before this year's monsoon, the MMRDA and MCGM had tried to evict the
slumdwellers from the pavement along Senapati Bapat Marg in the Mahim-Dadar
belt. But the removal

has been partial. Some of those evicted have returned.

    Sources said the erstwhile Manohar Joshi-government had committed a huge
blunder by including slums in its ambitious plan to provide free houses to
the poor.

    "While prime lands were taken by builders under SRA, there was no scope
for free houses for the slumdwellers. The Sena government had made a big
mistake by announcing protection to footpath residents,'' said an IAS
official.

    Former IPS officer YP Singh, who fights cases for slumdwellers said:
"These slums may be undesirable, but in terms of the laws of equity, the
occupants must be rehabilitated before evicting them.''

    SORE POINT

P D'Mello Road, which runs along the harbour railway, will be the first one
to be taken up under the scheme

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