Mahul Gas Chamber: Fadnavis Government’s Indifferent Behaviour Towards Poor People

As a mark of protest, hundreds of Mahul residents took out a bike rally today, on November 27, demanding rehabilitation to a pollution-free area. For the last one month, the residents have been protesting against the horrific conditions of the area where they are living. Today, as the protest entered its 31st day, the protestors expressed their disgruntlement with the lack of response from the Fandavis government. But they have resolved to continue the protest until they are rehabilitated to a safer area.

Salim Saboowala, an activist said, “I have received the news that many protestors were detained on their way to the Maharashtra Secretariat Post Office. They were also asked not to protest but they didn’t listen.” The lives of the residents of Mahul is a tale of lies and betrayal. The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) have proposed an offer to rehabilitate 300-400 families as part of the first phase, but only after the issuance of an order by the Maharashtra government.

As the protests intensified, it was proposed that all the 5,500 residents will be provided tenements. Talking to Newsclick, Bilal Khan of Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan said, “BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) and MHADA, which is assisted by Shiv Sena have proposed few allotments but are waiting for approval by the Fadnavis government. They even went on to say that the Maharashtra Government is lying and they have the required allotment.  Following this, the Government was pressurised after which they ordered the allotment of housing to all 5,500 residents. They had asked for four days but there has been no response. I just received an update that they are only ready to provide 300 tenements and will not be relocating all the 5,500 residents citing the matter to be under litigation.” Bilal confirmed that 12 protestors have been detained and will be released in the evening.

Also Read: Residents of Mumbai’s ‘Critically Polluted Area’ Demand ‘Right To Life’

Residents living in the Mahul area have been facing serious health problems because of polluted air and contaminated water. The area is dotted with oil refineries, dozens of fertiliser and chemical plants, including BPCL (Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited) and “carcinogenic” chemical storage tanks.

This is not the first time, the residents have been protesting for the past year since they were relocated from Andheri, Kurla and Ghatkopar to Mahul.

In 2009, the Bombay High Court had ordered the BMC to remove encroachments along the Tansa pipeline. In 2017, the government relocated the displaced 5,500 people to Mahul village, which is nothing less than a gas chamber. Talking to Newsclick, a female resident said, “I lost my daughter within a month after shifting to Mahul. The air and water are toxic to the extent that even when we boil water, we can see the chemical residue. We are poor people and we believe that’s why the government is indifferent to us. Our children are ill, few are developing skin disease and many people are losing hair.”

Government Paid No Heed to HC Order

In June 15, 2018, the Bombay HC in its order said that, “It was the Maharashtra government’s obligation to rehabilitate people displaced after their houses located in the vicinity of the Tansa water pipeline here were demolished”. The HC had further said that if the government is unable to do so, it should at least provide people “monthly compensation” till they are rehabilitated. “The government has kept a very indifferent attitude towards the people. They even chose ignore the HC order, so where should the people go now? They are protesting and they will protest till their demands are met,” said a protesting resident.

A tent has been perched in Ambedkar Nagar of Vidya Vihar (East) where the protestors gather every morning and stay till the evening, demanding their ‘Right to Life’.