Anil Galgali made it to the cold statistics of people dead in landslides. All this, even as a report that could have possibly prevented it, awaits action. If only these hutments had been shifted, as was recommended after the Mumbai Slum Improvement Board carried out a survey in 17 April 2010. On 19 September 2011, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan order to prepare action plan and report how much land will be available for develop as well as to adopt Slumfree City. Now its 34 Month pass but Urban Development department till not implement single agenda nor prepare any Action Taking Plan (ATP)as Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan order and give 1 month deadline. Its revealed by a RTI which filed by Athak Seva Sangh Chairman & RTI Activists Anil Galgali who obtained all this fact information from Housing department. Like Pune incidents here also chances of Big landslides which city already see in the year 2000 and 2005 respectively Ghatkopar Azad Nagar & Sakinaka Khadi No.3
According a RTI, The survey, across 25-assembly constituencies in the City,Western and Eastern suburbs, had revealed that over 22483 hutments in 327 hilly areas are dangerous and need to be shifted urgently. In that 49 spots dangerous in Mumbai City in which total hutments are 3986 out of which 2303 hutments were shift on urgent basis and 1683 will safeguard by retaining wall and in Mumbai Suburb total 278 spots are most dangerous total no. of hutments are 18497 in which 8698 hutments were safeguard by retaining wall and 7354 needd to shift from hillside on urgent basis.
This report had been sent to the Government for final consideration, but it is still awaiting the state nod.This, despite a revelation under RTI that almost 260 people have lost their lives and more than 270 are injured in landslides between 1992 and 2013.
According to RTI activist Anil Galgali, the BMC and the Mumbai Suburban Collectorate jointly carried out a survey of hutments and submitted findings in a report to the state Housing Ministry on April 17, 2010.
"As per the report, there are 327 hilly areas classified as dangerous of the 25 constituencies. Of the 22483 huts in these areas, the authorities recommended shifting 9,657 huts on a priority basis," said Galgali. "The remaining could be protected by constructing retaining walls around the hills."
Galgali added that since 1995, an amount of Rs 200 crore has been spent on constructing retaining walls, but the government could not prevent natural disaster from claiming lives.
"I believe the state government, instead of spending crores of rupees constructing retaining walls, should shift slumdwellers to the 15,000 vacant MMRDA and BMC tenements across the city," said Galgali.
The official clarified that the funds for constructing the retaining walls for protection of slums (10,381) was to come from the District Planning Development Committee (DPDC) but because of non-availability of adequate funds, the process of finding ways to increase the fund flow is still being worked out.
Another problem is the challenge that involves shifting of nearly 22483 slums to rehabilitation tenements. Firstly, land needs to be procured from private parties or departments like BMC, MMRDA, MIDC to construct such rehabilitation tenements and only once they agree the construction work could commence.
Moreover, the biggest challenge for the government is to ensure that the plot housing vacated slums is not encroached upon again and various mechanisms will need to be put in place to prevent any further encroachment.
This will involve roping in the Forest Department and ensure they plant trees on these plots. It will not only ensure that there is no encroachment on the plots, but will also prevent soil erosion and, in turn, landslides.Planning needed"The Slum Improvement Board has submitted its report in which it has presented a dimension of the problem and possible solution," said Galgali.
A letter address to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Anil Galgali demanding to protect & save 1.15 lacks poor people lives because in monsoon every coming stone over the hillside make vibration of heart of this poor people. Instead to waiting big accident, Govt should rehab all poor people at MMRDA & BMC PAP immediate effect. It needs to be evaluated and a time management strategy planned out for its implementation, said Galgali.
According a RTI, The survey, across 25-assembly constituencies in the City,Western and Eastern suburbs, had revealed that over 22483 hutments in 327 hilly areas are dangerous and need to be shifted urgently. In that 49 spots dangerous in Mumbai City in which total hutments are 3986 out of which 2303 hutments were shift on urgent basis and 1683 will safeguard by retaining wall and in Mumbai Suburb total 278 spots are most dangerous total no. of hutments are 18497 in which 8698 hutments were safeguard by retaining wall and 7354 needd to shift from hillside on urgent basis.
This report had been sent to the Government for final consideration, but it is still awaiting the state nod.This, despite a revelation under RTI that almost 260 people have lost their lives and more than 270 are injured in landslides between 1992 and 2013.
According to RTI activist Anil Galgali, the BMC and the Mumbai Suburban Collectorate jointly carried out a survey of hutments and submitted findings in a report to the state Housing Ministry on April 17, 2010.
"As per the report, there are 327 hilly areas classified as dangerous of the 25 constituencies. Of the 22483 huts in these areas, the authorities recommended shifting 9,657 huts on a priority basis," said Galgali. "The remaining could be protected by constructing retaining walls around the hills."
Galgali added that since 1995, an amount of Rs 200 crore has been spent on constructing retaining walls, but the government could not prevent natural disaster from claiming lives.
"I believe the state government, instead of spending crores of rupees constructing retaining walls, should shift slumdwellers to the 15,000 vacant MMRDA and BMC tenements across the city," said Galgali.
The official clarified that the funds for constructing the retaining walls for protection of slums (10,381) was to come from the District Planning Development Committee (DPDC) but because of non-availability of adequate funds, the process of finding ways to increase the fund flow is still being worked out.
Another problem is the challenge that involves shifting of nearly 22483 slums to rehabilitation tenements. Firstly, land needs to be procured from private parties or departments like BMC, MMRDA, MIDC to construct such rehabilitation tenements and only once they agree the construction work could commence.
Moreover, the biggest challenge for the government is to ensure that the plot housing vacated slums is not encroached upon again and various mechanisms will need to be put in place to prevent any further encroachment.
This will involve roping in the Forest Department and ensure they plant trees on these plots. It will not only ensure that there is no encroachment on the plots, but will also prevent soil erosion and, in turn, landslides.Planning needed"The Slum Improvement Board has submitted its report in which it has presented a dimension of the problem and possible solution," said Galgali.
A letter address to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Anil Galgali demanding to protect & save 1.15 lacks poor people lives because in monsoon every coming stone over the hillside make vibration of heart of this poor people. Instead to waiting big accident, Govt should rehab all poor people at MMRDA & BMC PAP immediate effect. It needs to be evaluated and a time management strategy planned out for its implementation, said Galgali.
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