Shanties on Parsik tunnel to be demolished, residents cry foul
After the Bombay High Court has rapped the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), the state government and the Railways for failing to protect the Parsik tunnel (tunnel below a hill between Mumbra and Diva), and also for not providing alternate accommodation to the residents, the authorities have prepared a complete plan to demolish the illegal shanties that are on top of the hill.
After the court's order, the officials from district, TMC, Railways and the forest joined hands to free the tunnel of nearly 200 encroachments.
Though the authorities have promised to rehabilitate the residents, they have failed to provide with any concrete plans as yet. The residents are furious and are in getting ready to go knock the doors of the court once again.
"We had already moved the HC, looks like we will have to file a plea for getting rehabilitation yet again. We will agitate for our rights," said Sangeeta Palekar, the activist fighting for the rights of residents.
The Parsik Hill has almost 200 huts that are on both the forest and Railway land. Around 80 huts will be demolished that are labelled as 'most dangerous' by the HC. The officials pasted notices on their shanties and now the residents have panicked that they will be on the streets in the rains.
"We will not vacate our homes till we are given alternate place to live in, whether transit or whatever. The forest and the Railways do not have any plan of rehabilitating us. Until and unless the respective court does not give us any directions, we will not vacate our premises," said Ramnath Yadav, who has been a resident here since last 15 years.
"This prominence above this tunnel comes under the jurisdiction of the Railways and the forest authorities. Over the years , people have encroached the hill by building houses and shops. The sewage water of the settlements has been flowing into the track below," said, Sandeep Malavi, public relations officer, TMC
The tunnel cuts right through Parsik Hill and is an important link for the Central Railway's suburban and long distance trains.
The forest department and TMC had tried to demolish the hutments but slum dwellers had approached the HC which stayed the eviction notice.
The HC has asked the civic body to first work out the rehabilitation scheme for the hutment residents. Since these 80 huts have received the notices and will have to vacated within 72 hours, residents are scared and have decided to go to the court.
There was a meeting held by Municipal Commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal on Friday that was attended by Railway, district and forest officials to discuss the issues.