Mumbai Slum Demolition Sparks Outrage as Nearly 200 Families Rendered Homeless

Mumbai, 21st July 2023: On Wednesday (19th July), heavy rains drenched Mumbai while officials of the Mumbai Collectorate, accompanied by a large police force, carried out the demolition of slum houses in Ambojwadi, Malvani, and Malad areas using five bulldozers. This operation left nearly 200 families homeless, prompting them to express their determination to march to the collector’s office in protest against this heartless action.

Surprisingly, the Supreme Court banned all types of demolition operations from June 1 to September 30. Despite this, the displaced residents claimed that the district administration had demolished the same settlement three times during this period.

This settlement is home to a diverse population, including domestic women, hawkers, daily wage earners, Dalits, tribals, and laborers, mostly hailing from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh. Many of them earn a living through laborious manual work.

The authorities had previously taken action against the Ambojwadi hut on June 1 and 6, and again on July 19. Residents also alleged that notices dated June 6 were pasted on the demolished huts from the Collectorate on June 16, adding to their frustration and confusion.

Following the demolition, Jan Haq Sangharsh Samiti and Malvani Yuva Parishad held a meeting with the affected citizens to chart their future course of action. The citizens, displaced without any prior notice, decided to stage a march at the Bandra Collectorate to protest this illegal action.
Various leaders and activists, including Sundar Padmukh of Aam Aadmi Party, Ad Sandeep Katke, Sunil Gamre of RPI, Shubham Kothari, Amit Gawli, Vikas Waghmare, Baiju Gupta, Bala Akhade, Shahenshah Ansari, along with local residents, were present at the meeting to lend their support.

The affected residents shared their heartbreaking stories, recounting how they had built their homes with hard-earned money and now face homelessness amidst the torrential rains. They expressed deep frustration with the administration’s actions and demanded answers from the government.

Snehal Joshi, Deputy Collector, stated that this action was carried out following a meeting with guardian minister Mangalprabhat Lodha, citing a large amount of encroachment in the area as the reason for the demolition.