Saturday, July 18, 2015

SLUMS TAKE OVER OPEN PLOT AT KHANDA COLONY : Hindustan Times


NEW PANVEL: Even as the City Industrial Development Cor poration (Cidco) has become quite aggressive in taking action against illegal structures in the city, it seems to be turning a blind eye to the mushrooming slums within its jurisdiction.
The latest instance is at sector 12 at Khanda Colony of New Panvel.
In the past few days, a number of shanties have come up on an open plot in the area. Sources claim that the slums are backed by the office bearers of a political party to create a vote bank. Collusion of some officials is also suspected.
Many of those who have come to stay here are from outside the state.
“It costs Rs50,000 to Rs1,00,000 to get a house here. There are around 150 hutments in the area now. If action is not taken, there could be over a thousand soon,” said a local social worker.
“We have the requisite documents including PAN card, Aadhaar card and so on. We have also submitted documents for our names to be included in the voting list. There are a large number of non-Maharashtrians too living in the area,” said Mahesh Gaikwad, a resident of the area.
A f amily from Bihar has recently come to stay in the area. They refused to comment when asked who had given them permission to construct a house in the location.
“The coming up of slums next to the railway tracks is an open invitation to accidents in the area. The children from the slums play in the area and often go close to the tracks. Who will be responsible if there is any untoward incident?” said the social worker.
SJ Gosavi, of f i cial f rom Controller of Unauthorised Constructions of Cidco, said, “Action will be taken against the slums after the monsoon.”

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