Rehabilitation of Adivasi layouts suffer due to lacksaidal approach of MMRDA

Due to a lacksaidal approach of the MMRDA, the 100% completion of  project for widening of the Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road as per the agreement between the IIT Mumbai and the MMRDA entered into in 2007 is still prolonging and the rehabilitation is still pending. This has been revealed by a reply to a RTI query filed by RTI Activist Anil Galgali. Due to this approach of the MMRDA, the Adivasi's staying in the Adivasi layouts are suffering.

RTI Activist Anil Galgali had sought information from the MMRDA and IIT Mumbai regarding the rehabilitation of the Adivasi's living in the Adivasi layouts. The Asst Registrar of the IIT Bombay, Shri SL Dhivar informed Galgali that, an agreement was executed between the IIT Bombay and MMRDA in 2007, without any cost compensation. Almost 10559 sq mtrs of land belonging to the IIT Bombay was effected by the Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road project initiated by the MMRDA for which IIT Bombay was not paid any compensation. The MMRDA paid Rs 3.16 crores to IIT Bombay for the purpose of shifting the various services of IIT in the effected portion. The MMRDA administration in the year 2011 shifted 99 huts from the portion. In the year 2013, the Ghatkopar Dy Collector conducted a survey in Perubag & Bhaangshila of Powai for the hutments and the scrapyard and noted 433 huts. The IIT Bombay administration is pushing the MMRDA for getting the hutments rehabilitated and getting the area vacated. The presence of Wild animals has also increased in that locality. The government has further stopped providing all the facilities and services in the layouts in veiw of this anticipated rehabilitation and shifting. 

CM Devendra Fadnavis had directed the MMRDA administration to immediately carryout the rehabilitation of the Adivasi layouts under the MUTP scheme in 2016, which also has been ignored by the MMRDA administration. This inaction has endangered the lives of the inhabitants of the Adivasi layouts. IIT Bombay has laid the blame on the inordinate delay caused by more than 10 years on the MMRDA administration. In a complaint letter addressed to CM Devendra Fadnavis, Galgali has questioned the working style of the MMRDA. Galgali has further demanded that the Adivasi inhabitants of the layout be rehabilitated at the Nahur and Kanjurmarg PAP flats.