Kranti Nagar residents demand relocation after repeated Mithi River floods

Every year the Mithi River floods into our homes and destroys everything Our houses are in a dilapidated condition and can collapse anytime Mumbai International Airport Ltd MIAL should help us and relocate us from hererdquo residents of Kranti Nagar told middayLocals said they are frustrated with both the BMC and MIAL as neither authority has stepped in to help With repeated flooding televisions refrigerators furniture sofas groceries airconditioners and clothes have been ruined year after yearOn Wednesday and Thursday several residents were seen drying out televisions refrigerators and other household items in the open While some families were relocated in the past three years many homes remain and midday found several in a broken dangerous condition at risk of collapseThe narrow street in Kranti Nagar which remained flooded on Monday and Tuesday PICNIMESH DAVElsquoRelocation pendingrsquoSpeaking with midday MLA Parag Alavani said ldquoThe issue of relocating Kranti Nagar residents has been pending for many years I personally met the chief minister a few years ago regarding rehabilitation of people residing in Kranti Nagar The CM had also ordered their relocation Houses were constructed for them but they were never allotted those homes that have remained unused ever since These houses are now unfit for living and need repairs We will raise this issue again to ensure the residents are shifted soonrdquoBMC provides food to Kranti Nagar residents at a temporary shelter in Magan Nathuram Marg BMC School Complex Kurla West on August 20 after the Mithi River overflowed into homes PicSatej ShindeRehabilitation issueAdvocate Godfrey Pimenta trustee of the Watchdog Foundation told midday ldquoThe resettlement and rehabilitation land of the Airport Authority of India which is the subject matter of a PIL before the Supreme Court has already been directed for those residing on Airport Authority land Encroachers there are eligible for resettlement When the BJP and Shiv Sena UBT government was in power they passed a government resolution regarding the rehabilitation and resettlement of people on encroached landA dilapidated house in Kranti Nagar after Mithi overflowedEven those residing on the first floor of such houses should be settled All eligible residents should be rehabilitated within three kilometres of the Airport Authority land Others who are not eligible should be shifted to the MMR region such as Panvel Thane and nearby areas The MMRDA is the planning authority for the Mithi River but the BMC has still not carried out the contour mapping of the river to determine its flow The Kranti Nagar land belongs to the Airport Authority of India and has been leased to MIAL for 30 yearsrdquoVoicesSachin Bhosale a TV repair shop ownerldquoFor years the Mithi River has been flooding into our home My entire shop was waterlogged on Tuesday More than 30 televisions were destroyed this year alone Last year was the same but this year was worse Irsquove been waiting three years for MIAL to shift us but nothing has happened Our shops and homes are unsafe We should be relocated immediatelyrdquoSangita Sanjay ChavanldquoOn Tuesday my entire house was flooded We had to leave and stay with relatives When we returned everything was damaged The walls are broken and could collapse at any time We are living in lifethreatening conditions Every year we suffer but no one takes responsibilityrdquoSharmila Shantaram DalvildquoThe water was so high that even my airconditioner stopped working It hasnrsquot started since Tuesday The wall of my house is damaged and may fall any time Our only demand is to be shifted to safe flats MIAL relocated many people three years ago but we are still waitingrdquoJitendra ThakurldquoKranti Nagar comes under MIALrsquos authority On Monday my house was completely waterlogged When we returned on Tuesday everything inside was destroyed All our stored food was spoiled We only managed to save the television We need relocation at the earliestrdquo