Mulund residents came out in droves on Sunday and formed human chains protesting against the BMC's decision to place those displaced due to the Dharavi Redevelopment Project in Mulund East.
Advocate Sagar Devre led the silent protest in Mulund; he had already filed a PIL in the Bombay High court against the projects. They reasoned that the PAP project will put unreasonable pressure on civic resources and infrastructure of Mulund.
Devre also said that no political party is backing the residents' agitation and was purely organised since they will be affected. He warned of intensifying the protest if the authorities do not respond to their peaceful agitation.
Other concerned Mulund East residents also expressed worries about the strain on civic resources due to rehabilitation projects. Residents have written emails, protest, and met Chief Minister Ekanath Shinde to voice their opposition to BMC's plans.
The state government's housing department wrote to the civic chief on January 10 asking for 64 acres of land in Mulund to be handed over to the Dharavi Rehabilitation Authority.
The govrnment planned to develop rental housing for the rehabilitation of Dharavi families not eligible for Dharavi Rehabilitation Project. The letter said a state cabinet decision in October 2022.
The government planned to rehabilitate Dharavi residents at the entry point of Mumbai while the BMC plans to rehabilitate around 8,000 PAP families in Mulund East.
Meanwhile, the civic body chief IS Chahal said that BMC received a letter from state government and that they cannot go against their instructions. He said, thus they have decided to hand over the plots.
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