Rebuild, don't encroach, say BMC and Railways

Garib Nagar is rising from itsu00a0 ashes, quite literally. A month after the deadly flames engulfed nearly 500 shanties and razed them to the ground, pucca houses are being built again at the site.

This phoenix-like resurrection, however, is taking place under the hawk-eyed glare of the Railway and BMC authorities.

While the Railway authorities have warned the slum dwellers not to encroach on their lands, the BMC has also made it clear that it would tolerate no instance of encroachment.


After the shanties were destroyed on March 7, officials began to rebuild the place to offer homes to slum dwellers

In fact, authorities are busy documenting even the minutest proceedings, in order to prevent encroachment. The whole area is nearly an acre of land, prime property right outside the Bandra station.

About 453 new concrete shanties are being built to replace the 500 that were gutted. The Railways have sternly stipulated that the new shanties should be at least 34 feet away from the tracks.

The BMC is also keeping a vigilant eye on the reconstruction work, photographing every movement in the slum, so as to ensure that no unauthorised shanties come up on its premises.

The slum dwellers earlier stayed in houses made of tins, but this time round they are building houses that are supported by iron channels, rods and proper foundations.
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Aziz Shaikh, a slum dweller who is reconstructing his house, said, "We have been asked by the railways to stay away from their land. But now it appears we are on the land owned by the city."

He further added, "Our local community is helping us with iron rods, whereas the money that was given to us by the government is being used to redevelop the entire area from scratch."

Sharat Chandrayan, PRO, Western Railway, said, "No encroachment on our land by the slum dwellers has yet been detected. Our men are posted at the site, in order to ensure that no one enters our area."

Similarly, Chandrakant Rokade, deputy municipal commissioner, said, "We have photographed everything, and are also keeping an eye on the construction site. If we notice any instance of encroachment, appropriate action will be taken immediately."

Some community members have been helping the victims of the fire to rebuild their dwellings. They claim that many dwellers have now been evicted from their lands, because it belongs to the Railways.

"Nearly 90-100 families have not received new sites to build their dwellings on.
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The government needs to understand that there are many slum dwellers who do not have a place to stay, as the railway authorities have barred them from rebuilding their homes on their lands.
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The authorities should look into their needs as well," said a committee member of the Ghaas Market Relief camp.