Mumbai deserves safe homes!
Each year, during monsoon, incidents of buildings collapsing like a pack of cards have become common phenomena in Mumbai. Hundreds of people have been killed in such tragedies in the past decade but, alas, the government has never pondered on a concrete solution to people living in dilapidated buildings in Mumbai. Tragically, it is the same Mumbai that fills the coffers of BMC with crores of rupees as property tax. But, in return, BMC and the governing body shed their responsibility from such disasters and the entire blame is put on the innocent residents!
On Tuesday, Mumbai awoke to another horrible nightmare when a dilapidated 100-year-old building collapsed at Dongri in Mumbai. The unfortunate incident witnessed over 10 people dead and several homeless. As the city mourns the tragedy, the vital question that has again gripped the city is about the safety of millions of people living in dilapidated structures in Mumbai and, most importantly, why do people risk their lives and do not abandon their old buildings and stay away from their dilapidated structures?
Well, it is easy to preach the people to abandon their houses, but the bitter truth is that finding a small space for living in Mumbai is a Herculean task. Nobody wishes to live in crumbling structures standing on temporary supports having massive cracks, plaster peeling off and buildings that shake at the sound of speeding trucks and buses. In Mumbai, there are several such dilapidated buildings which are over 80 to 100 years old, but people continue to live in these risky structures because they cannot buy new property or have the money to even rent a house!!
Besides, people who have lived together for years develop an emotional bond that is difficult to shed. Secondly, owing to proximity to schools, offices, hospitals, markets, etc., people are reluctant to vacate their old dwelling and hunt for a new house. And, last but not the least, BMC does not guarantee accommodation to the people who vacate their old houses. The temporary transit camps that BMC erects for the old building dwellers do not have even the basic facilities like water and electricity. Hence, residents demand from BMC to provide alternate accommodation as provided by Mhada or BMC which provides alternative shelters, temporarily, before taking the property for development. But, BMC provides no such concessions. Thus, the residents living in old structures are forced to risk their lives and stay in dilapidated structures.
The concept of Redevelopment, too, is complicated as there many corrupt builders and trusting an honest builder is a taxing task. Amidst such a scenario, people living in C-1 buildings must unite and fight for their rights. Home Times urges the residents of dilapidated buildings not to bear the atrocities of the BMC silently, but get organised and wage a war against the BMC for their inherent rights.
Besides, BMC and the concerned authorities need to be held guilty and accountable and the trend of this blame game needs to be stopped! Mumbaikars pay the highest taxes and hence deserve safe homes and a decent life!
