Daijiworld Media Network- Mumbai
Mumbai, Jan 17: Residents of Malad staged a strong protest against the city survey department on Thursday when officials arrived in Aksa Village to conduct a land survey for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project. The survey aimed to identify land to rehabilitate Dharavi residents but was called off due to intense local resistance.
As per a high court directive issued in response to a writ petition by the residents, the City Survey Department is required to consult locals before conducting any survey. However, the protesting residents alleged that officials disregarded the court order by arriving unannounced and without prior consultation.
“Why is it that the high court orders are blatantly disregarded by them? The court has specifically said that we should be consulted before taking any decision or action in regard to the land,” said Ajit Thakur, secretary of Mukteshwar Society. Thakur also shared a copy of the court order with the media.
Another protester expressed concerns about the redevelopment project, stating, “The redevelopment project directly impacts our homes and livelihoods. We are very clear that we do not want Dharavi in Malad.”
Protest escalates
The survey team, accompanied by local police, arrived at the site around 7.45 am. Their arrival was met with immediate resistance from residents, who quickly gathered in protest. The area was heavily barricaded, with a significant police presence, including riot police equipped with tear gas and a rapid intervention vehicle. As tensions escalated, officials were escorted away, and the survey was abandoned.
Local MLA Aslam Sheikh visited the site during the protest and urged officials to halt the survey and delete any collected data. Following this, a delegation of seven representatives from Aksa Village and neighboring koliwadas met with survey officials at the Malwani police station and later with the Mumbai Suburban district collector.
Official statement
Rajendra Kshirsagar, Mumbai Suburban District Collector, said, “The delegation met me in my office, and I listened to their concerns. I also informed them about the options available to them and explained that the decision regarding this matter will not be made at my level.”
The situation remains tense as residents continue to demand transparency and consultation in the redevelopment process.