Mahim locals start signature campaign to clear footpaths

MUMBAI: As a last resort to make the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) G North ward perform its duties, Mahim residents have started a signature campaign for removing slums on footpaths and thereby implementing the Bombay high court’s order that bans encroachments within a 150-metre radius around the station.

After the residents’ initial written pleas to the ward office to take action failed to yield response, they decided on a collaborative campaign with the Advanced Locality Management (ALM).

Herman Dias, secretary of the ALM said, “We are constantly under the threat of road accidents as there is no space to walk on the footpaths. Encroachments are mushrooming everywhere. The BMC has completely failed us.”

Dias said if the residents’ signature campaign fails, then the next resort would be to file a contempt of court against the BMC.

BMC assistant commissioner Ashok Khairnar said, “We take regular action on encroachments but they keep cropping up. The people there are mostly basket weavers with make-shift tents, which they hide when a demolition is planned.”

“Also, human rights organisations stop us from forcefully removing them,” said Khairnar.

As of now, the ALM has gathered more than 300 signatures from Mahim residents and it aims to get around 3,000 signatures in a week’s time to force the BMC to take timely action and get a permanent solution.