MUMBAI: The Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) authorities are currently holding a hearing for 7,000 slum dwellers settled on its land to ascertain their eligibility for free housing.
Notices for the hearing and to submit documents were issued after the Jan 15 order of Bombay high court, ordering the state to find alternative land for rehabilitation of encroachers.
Former BJP MP Mumbai North, Gopal Shetty, has now questioned the authorities over the notices sent to residents of Ketkipada-Dharwadi in Dahisar, who have settled there for over 40 years. He claimed many of them paid the Rs 7,000 as directed by the HC in 1997.
Forest officials said only those slum households that have not paid the rehab money have been issued notices. The SGNP has issued notices to slum dwellers from Dahisar to Malad. The court came down heavily on the commercial activities being carried out on forest land by encroachers.
“Around 12,000 slum dwellers who paid Rs 7,000 have been rehabilitated at Chandivali. Another 11,000 are still awaiting rehabilitation. The state is yet to provide tenements for them,” said a senior forest official.
“We have records of the receipt for 11,000 slum households. We are now asking the others, in case we missed recording them. The 7,000 slum households have been asked to produce documents, such as receipt for Rs 7,000 if paid, Aadhaar, election ID card, and other documents to ascertain when they settled here.” The HC in its order criticised the govt’s continuous non-compliance with court orders from 1997 till now. It also raised concerns over the alleged commercial activities going on within the park. The court also ordered relocation of encroachers who settled at the park after 2011.
Shetty, in his letter to SGNP, said RTI activists are filing petitions in court and causing mental harassment to slum dwellers. “Where thousands of people reside, it is natural there will be small shops selling items necessary for everyday living. It is, therefore, necessary to consider this issue legally. Till the govt makes alternate arrangements, no action should be taken,” reads the letter.
Shetty has further warned that in case of any wrong action which could result in social unrest, the govt would be responsible for it.
