The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had to call off its plan to disconnect water and electricity connection of 25 buildings of Punjabi Refugee Colony in Sion-Koliwada under Antophill police station on Thursday after around 1,200 tenements of the community staged protest.
In order to disperse protesters, the police had to resort to lathi charge that left some residents injured. As part of monsoon preparation, the BMC team along with police had gone to disconnect water and electricity connection of 25 dilapidated buildings of refugee community that had already been declared dangerous by the civic body.
Anand Wagaralkar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner of Zone II of the BMC, said, “We had already served notices to vacate the building as it is not in a habitable condition, And it can collapse during monsoon. However, they did not and our officials disconnected the water and electricity connection to the buildings.”
However, around 1,200 tenements of 25 buildings started protesting and prevented civic officials from disconnecting water and electricity connection.
Residents have alleged that the civic body has not framed any resettlement rehabilitation scheme and forced them to vacate their homes with out anywhere to go.
The families made Sion-Koliwada their homes after migrating from West Pakistan after united India was partitioned in 1947. However, the building where they resides have dilapidated over the period. Wagaralkar said that the civic body can not leave to live in a house which is dangerous and could cost their lives. “The civic body will vacate these homes as soon as possible as their safety is more important,” added Wagaralkar.
N Ambika Pawar, DCP of Zone 4 said, “Today, BMC officials planned disconnection of electricity and water connection of 1 to 25 buildings of Punjabi colony under Antophill police station. Adequate police protection was provided. However, the public protested and pelted stone in which 5 policemen were injured. Nobody has been arrested yet. A FIR is being registered. The situation is peaceful.”
Analysis
In light of the lathi charge against residents protesting the cutting off of power and water supply to their homes, the civic body needs to evacuate dilapidated buildings classified as dangerous way before the monsoon season begins, and introduce a robust rehabilitation policy for residents of such buildings so that matters do not reach such a stage.
