Medha Patkar opposes SRA, Slum Dwellers oppose Medha Patkar

Spread across 140 acres, Jawahar Nagar in Khar (West) is one of the biggest areas open for redevelopment under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority’s (SRA) jurisdiction Jawahar Nagar has close to 1,554 slums, divided into many colonies. In 2000, Madhu Constructions was appointed as private developer by Ganeshkrupa Housing Colony. But residents allege a tripartite agreement was signed by some residents with the developer, without taking the mandatory 70% consent. In March 2008, by way of another agreement, the project was handed over to Shivalik Ventures, another developer by Madhu Constructions. Refuting allegations, Ramakant Jadhav, director of Shivalik Ventures claimed that his company had the consent of close to 90% residents. “We have been following all the legal proceedings in the project since the time we got the Letter Of Intent (LoI) in 2006. However, there have been a number of instances of residents first giving us consents and then going back on their word. Medha Patkar’s NGO (Ghar Bachao Andolan) has tried to malign our companies image,” said Jadhav. However, the other dispute is about rehabilitation which states that as per SRA norms, a transit camp has to be provided within 300 metres of the area. But the developer has offered the residents a transit camp at Golibar Road, which is in a mess. The real fight is about the right over land of the poor who make this city what it is. Today the land is being given or grabbed by the builders and influential people like Mukesh Ambani who has built his 27-storey building on the land of the Wakf Board. About 33,000 acres of land, which was either encroached or is free, is now available after the Land Ceiling Act was revoked.” "Why doesn't Medha Patkar or other activists stage a fast outside Mukesh Ambani's building and protect the Warf Board land," echoed an angry resident.
Medha Patkar, leader of the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), finally ended her nine-day fast at Mumbai's Golibar colony after the government handed her two resolutions incorporating the demands of the agitators.“It is a victory for the lakhs of people fighting for their right to live in the financial capital of India with dignity,” Medha Patkar said. As her fast entered the sixth day, Patkar said builder Shivalik Ventures is 'cheating' 26,000 families at the 140-actre Golibar slum (the second largest in Mumbai) in the name of redevelopment. She demanded immediate cancellation of the Golibar project and also similar ones under Clause 3K of the Maharashtra Slum Areas Act.
However, after Medha Patkar ended her fast over 4,000 families from 46 cooperative housing societies protested against social activist Medha Patkar's interference in a slum redevelopment scheme at Golibar in Santa Cruz. The slum dwellers have been demanding that the government must expedite the redevelopment project and restrain social activists opposing it. Slum dwellers at Golibar in Jawahar Nagar came out in support of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) project and the private developer. They said Patkar's support for 100 families staying in tenements, some of whom are ineligible, has delayed the SRA project in the area. Families came out in large numbers with banners and placards, to say "Medhatai you are in the wrong direction. Work for the welfare of the slum dwellers and not against them." "We don't want Medha Patkar's interference in this matter. Just to support 100 families tenements Patkar is not allowing rehabilitation of 4,000 families, which is unjust. She did not hear us. She called us the builder's agents, which is false," said Sheikh Kalimuddin, a slum dweller from Ashta Vinayak Cooperative Housing Society. They said the developer had rehabilitated some families in 2008. "Around 540 families already took possession of their flats," said Abdul Rehman, a resident of Shastri Colony Housing Society. He added, "My house was demolished. For three years, I have been staying in a transit camp. I should have been rehabilitated a year ago. But due to Patkar's resistance, I'm still here." J Y Kazi, member of Pragati Cooperative Housing Society shifted to his 225 sq feet flat in 2008. "I faced no problems from the builder and I have got what we demanded. Why is there opposition when 70% residents have agreed on the SRA scheme, which is mandatory," said Prakash Dhuri, Ganesh Kripa Cooperative Housing Society.
But, Simpreet Singh, member of Patkar's NGO Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan, said, "Medha Patkar isn't opposing the project. Some slum dwellers approached her. The SRA scheme lacks the mandatory 70% consent of residents. We have proof of it." It doesn't stop here. He added, "The HC ordered registration of an FIR against the builder and committee members for forgery and fraud. We are also concerned for the families which have shifted. Since if the HC passes an order that the land on which they are being rehabilitated, belongs to the defence establishment, then these tenements will have to be demolished."
Golibar residents marched to the suburban collector’s office again the next day demanding the Ganeshkripa Society demolitions continue, two days after the state government acceded to activist Medha Patkar’s demands to suspend demolitions. One of Patkar’s demands was that demolitions be halted until inquiries were conducted into allegations of signature forgery in the consent letters of Golibar residents. The government assured Patkar no demolitions would take place till the inquiry ended. Residents of the Golibar area who consented to Shivalik Ventures as their developer carried out a protest rally against Patkar alleging her intervention in the case had slowed down their rehabilitation. They have asked the government to continue the enquiry without halting the demolition. “There is too much delay in our rehabilitation. Although the high court ordered the demolition in September, and the supreme court concurred with its decision, a few people in the society have been stopping it every time,” said Shubhangini Shinde, chief promoter of Ganeshkripa society. “Nearly 7,500 people have left their houses consenting to the developer hoping for free rehabilitation. We demand the state government to consider them,” said Kalimuddin Shaikh, a resident who has stayed on rent paid by the developer for the past year.
Medha Patkar and her anti-development plank seems to be getting more and more focal in Mumbai. If this trend continues God knows if Dharavi, the largest slum pocket of Asia will ever get redeveloped. It is an accepted fact that some people are born with a curse to spoil good and progress for the society, it;s a mutated gene, and we must do a research to identify and exterminate this mutation. Already we are seeing manifestation of this mutated gene as Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev, Medha Patkar and Arundhati Roy. Stop it before it spreads.