After a 45-day protest, Mahul residents (protestors) marched to the Mantralaya on Saturday, in order to reach out to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over their rehabilitation concern. The previous protest was on a pavement in Vidyavihar near a slum area from where they were evicted.
In 2017, more than 5,500 people were shifted to Mahul, one of Mumbai’s most polluted areas and consists of numerous chemical and fertiliser factories. The residents complained that were made to move to such a hazardous place after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) demolished more than 16,000 homes and encroachments along the Tansa pipeline by stating that it was a risk to both the people and the water supply network.
The 2.9 km march, began from Carnac Bunder and was led by social activist Medha Patkar. The protest was launched six months after the residents and Patkar had met a representative of the CM and BMC Commissioner Ajoy Mehta demanding alternate accommodation.
The volunteers from NGOs voiced their angst and stated that it had been four months since the High Court had ordered to rehabilitate them. They further added that study from IIT had displayed that the area was toxic to live in and yet, the government paid no heed to the problems.
Earlier, around 1,183 residents from Mahul had received a notice which stated that their names had been excluded from the voting list.
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