June 23, 2018

Activists warn numbers will climb owing to newer projects

Infrastructure projects in the city have displaced at least 63,000 people in the last 10 years. With land acquisition for new projects, like the big-ticket Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train and the Mumbai-Nagpur expressway, yet to get under way, the numbers will only shoot up further.

The projects include construction of flyovers like Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR), Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) and Eastern Freeway, skywalks, highways, road widening, rail lines, Navi Mumbai airport, Metro lines and the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), and the Mithi river widening. Some of the project-affected persons (PAPs) are still awaiting rehabilitation; a few have moved court.

The Eastern Freeway alone is responsible for the displacement of 3,400 people, all of whom have been officially rehabilitated at Mankhurd, Mahul and Chembur. Locals, however, said more than 2,000 slumdwellers are still waiting to find new homes. “They submitted their documents, but nothing has been done so far,” said Rahul Kamble, a PAP who found a new home at Chembur.

The Colaba-Seepz Metro-III line, which has found itself in several controversies, has uprooted 2,744 people. “We have rehabilitated 1,913 of them. Residential PAPs have given resettled at Premier Colony in Kurla, Chakala and Kanjurmarg. Commercial PAPs have been shifted to Jogeshwari, Kurla and Kanjurmarg. The rest will be rehabilitated by October,” said Sanjay Karhade, media advisor to Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation.

The MMRDA has 47 rehabilitation colonies in Wadala, Mankhurd, Vashi Naka, Govandi, Jogeshwari, Dahisar and Oshiwara.

According to it, around 44,000 affected by SCLR, JVLR and Eastern Freeway have been rehabilitated. “We still have to accommodate over 2,000 others. There will be no displacement owing to Metro line-IIA,” said Dilip Kavathkar, PRO, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority) (MMRDA).

With newer projects on the anvil, the figures will rise sharply, warn activists. The flagship MTHL project, for which land acquisition began last year and which is expected to be completed only by 2025, will affect 317 structures, including residential and commercial places, according to a feasibility survey done by MMRDA.

Even by the modest estimate, this means 1,272 families will be relocated to Kanjurmarg or Kurla. Besides, MTHL will affect 1,500 fishermen, whom the government has agreed to compensate with a package of Rs 20 crore. Those who will suffer permanent loss of livelihood will be eligible to get Rs 6.14 lakh each.

Uncertainty over land acquisition for Metro-III has left many residents in a limbo. Residents of Girgaum, through which the metro line passes, fear that more people will be forced out. “The MMRC issued a notice of eviction to a few buildings. Our housing society was not on the list. But we were told later that we will also have to move,” said Sadanand Mulgaokar, secretary of Girgaum Ekta Cooperative Society.

Activist Bryan Lobo said the bullet train will need 509 hectare in Palghar and Thane. “The locals have put up a stiff resistance, but the displacement will be huge.” Another activist Ulka Mahajan alleged that government is subverting the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. “A land owner has the right to not surrender his land. It is mandatory to conduct a social impact assessment for any project, but it is often given a miss. Land of tribals is also not acquired as per the norms.”

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Source: epaper.timesgroup.com