Mumbai, June 08: More than 450 city families may become homeless this monsoon after the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) declared 24 of its residential buildings extremely unsafe.
The buildings, which house close to 1,034 families, received fresh eviction notices from Mhada on Monday, after a survey by the authority found that the buildings were in dilapidated condition.
The Mhada, however, has been able to provide transit accommodation to only 577 families, while the remaining 457 families have not been given any alternate accommodation.
Reasons for these families not getting accommodation are manifold. Initially, Mhada had issued notices to all the 24 dilapidated buildings for conducting repair works. But, the residents did not have funds to pay the deposit amount required for undertaking repairs.
“Mhada had asked us to deposit Rs57 lakh for repairs, but we could not do so. As no money was paid, Mhada did not undertake repair works, which further worsened the building’s condition,” said a resident of 254 Narshi Natha Street, which is one of the dilapidated structures.
Other buildings that have been enlisted as dangerous for residence are the two wings of Botawala Chawl at Rambhau Marg; Prabhudas Chawl; Building No 4 at Mhatarpakhadi cross lane; and Ray Chamber, all in E-ward which covers Mazgaon. In B-ward, buildings like 23-G at Memonwada, 364-268 at Sammuel Street, and 252 Nagdevi have been given notices. And, in D-ward the dilapidated buildings include 55 Dr Gopalrao Deshmukh Marg, 48-50 Sletter Road and 3 Chunam Lane.
Another problem that most residents are facing while accepting transit accommodations is that they are provided with an alternative at a far-off location. “Our kids study in schools that are closer to out homes. If we are shifted to far-off areas, it will be very difficult to get admission in a new school. We want a transit accommodation near our homes,” said V Kukarni, a resident of Bhageshwari Bhavan, another dilapidated building.
Residents of Botawala Chawl in Mazgaon are also facing a similar predicament as the chawl is going to be redeveloped. The chawl housed 423 families in 9 wings, but Mhada has not been able to provide them with alternate accommodation in the same area. While 167 families have accepted accommodation from Mhada, the rest 256 families are still leaving in fear of a collapse.
“Mhada had provided us transit at Pratiksha Nagar, Sion, but when we visited the place, we found out that the houses allotted to us were already occupied,” said Mahesh Shirodkar, a resident of Botawala Chawl. “The authority then allotted us homes at Wadala, but again those were occupied by someone else.”
–Agencies–