Mumbai’s Chimbai Village Fights Back Against ‘Slum’ Tag in SRA Notice

Mumbai, 10th February 2025: Mumbai’s earliest settlers are expressing outrage over a notice issued by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), which designates Bandra West’s Chimbai village—a historic settlement of East Indians, Hindus, and Kathiyawadi Kolis—as a slum. The notice also outlined plans for a survey in the area, sparking protests from locals and politicians who believed this was an attempt to seize their land.

In response to the backlash, SRA CEO Mahendra Kalyankar clarified that the notice was never officially posted and that no survey is currently being conducted. “According to the deputy collector, a land surveyor visited the site to post a notice, but after locals pointed out that the settlement falls within a koliwada, the surveyor refrained from proceeding,” he explained. Deputy Collector Geetanjali Shirke added that while no official notice was issued, a photo of it was taken and later circulated among residents.

The notice, dated January 30 and addressed to “all slum dwellers in the designated cluster,” stated that a survey would begin on February 13. It mentioned that the process would include numbering huts, capturing 360-degree footage, and conducting biometric verification. It also emphasized that the survey would be handled exclusively by the SRA, without any involvement from private organizations or developers.

Angered by the move, residents argue that labelling them as slum dwellers is not only unjust but also disrespectful to Mumbai’s original inhabitants. They fear the survey could be the first step toward forced displacement.

At a public gathering on Saturday, Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad condemned the move, accusing a “builder-friendly regime” of trying to sell off the city piece by piece. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she demanded that slum redevelopment schemes be kept out of gaothans and koliwadas and called for a government policy that promotes redevelopment while preserving their historic significance. Former BMC corporator Asif Zakaria, who attended the meeting with Gaikwad, reinforced that Chimbai is a traditional fishing village, not a slum.

Meanwhile, BJP MLA Ashish Shelar criticized Gaikwad for politicizing the issue, stating that she failed to fully understand the situation. “Residents approached me, and I discussed the matter with the SRA CEO. A notice was prepared, but officials later acknowledged that the area is a gaothan,” he explained.

Despite being surrounded by rapid urbanization, Chimbai village has managed to retain its traditional character. However, residents say this isn’t the first time they have faced threats of displacement. A third-generation resident pointed out that a similar notice was issued in the past. With the Bandra-Versova Sea Link being constructed nearby, locals worry that one of its exits—designed to ease traffic into Bandra and Khar—may cut through their koliwada. “Infrastructure development is necessary, but not at the cost of our homes,” the resident stressed.