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 About 33,000 acres of land, which was either encroached or is free, is now available after the Land Ceiling Act was revoked.”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.

Accused who thrashed a senior citizen finally arrested

We were the first in our issue dated 20th March, to report on the brutal attack on 70-year-old retired businessman Chetandas Khushlani who was beaten up in Vakola by hawkers against whom he had lodged a complaint. After we published the report the main accused in the FIR Surendra Mane went underground. The Vakola police were on a frantic effort to trace Mane. In the investigation, it is learnt that most of the 32 shopkeepers were summoned to Vakola police station for interrogation. Many of them complained that they were harassed by the police to summon Surendra Mane, though many of them admitted that they were not aware of his whereabouts and were only confined to their business. In the FIR along with Surendra Mane,  two unknown persons were also lodged in the complaint. Two rental shopkeepers, one who runs a Xerox and Stationery and the other who runs a Hairdressing Salon business were arrested and confined to lock-up for couple of days. They both were later released on bail. Both the shopkeepers admitted their innocence and spoke to Santacruz Patrika saying," Since we are running our business on rental basis in shops owned by accused Surendra Mane, we were unnecessarily arrested by Vakola Police and forced to spend days in lockup for no fault of ours." The disgusted Xerox shopkeeper added, "As I have been running my business for several years,  on what basis I was arrested as an unknown person is a  surprise to me". "Till date what have the Vakola Police done in arresting or tracing the two unknown culprits," questions the shopkeeper.

After, almost a month cops have finally arrested Surendra Mane who is alleged to have plotted the attack. The Vakola police last week arrested Surinder Mane from the premises of Sessions Court after his application for anticipatory bail was rejected. They also slapped charges of attempt to murder against him after his daughter took up the matter  with Sr PI Pardhesi and other authorities. Earlier, Mane was charged with assault and criminal intimidation. Chetandas Khushlani, 70, was thrashed by hawkers after he filed a complaint against them with the BMC.  Khushlani had filed a number of complaints against illegal hawkers with the BMC. In the first week of March, the civic authority issued orders for the demolition of illegal stalls in Vakola after he met BMC Commissioner Subodh Kumar. It is alleged that Mane then threatened Khushlani with dire consequences if he didn't withdraw his latest complaint. On March 18, the day of the demolition, Khushlani was thrashed by hawkers when he was on his morning walk. He suffered 10 fractures, and had to go through two operations at Hinduja Hospital.

Inspector Suryakant Talekar said that Mane had set up four food shops opposite Emerald Apts where Khushlani resides. “We have interrogated Mane, and he has now been sent to judicial custody. Khushlani’s son, Lakhmichand, is not satisfied with the investigation and feels that the investigations are being carried out at slow pace and lethargically. They have not been able to identify the BMC official who disclosed my father’s name to hawkers,” he said. Being angered that his father had to pay a heavy price for complaints against illegal encroachment, he fails to understand how come illegal stalls have once again come up in the area. However, Khushlani has filed an RTI application to know why the BMC has allowed illegal hawkers to do business opposite his residence again. He also wants to know why hawkers’ goods and articles were not confiscated and whether the civic body has created any system to check if an illegal stall, once demolished, has been set up again. “More than the police, it is the BMC that should be blamed. Hawkers cannot do business without BMC officials’ tacit consent. What is the point of filing a complaint if roadside vendors are allowed to set up their stalls again an hour after a demolition drive?” Lakhmichand asked.

However, the argument amongst the shopkeepers is - Why are we being made a scapegoat and penalised for carrying on business? Their argument is that more that 70% of shops in Mumbai are illegal and many of them are operating their business on gutters. Why are these illegal shops not demolished? Why are only we been regularly harassed and our shops demolished? It was way back in 1980 a few shop owners set up their shops opposite Emerald Apts. A few of them have been operating their business for more than 30 years. It was first in 1986 when the shops were demolished. After that the shops were demolished about 4 times and the shopkeepers had set up their shops again and continued doing business. It is understood that in 1991 a city survey was conducted and in 2000 the shops were granted gumasta licences. Also  in 1997 the shops were granted electric meters and installation. Four years ago when the shops were demolished it is learnt that Sanjay Potnis, Corporator set up a gutter and later asked the shop owners to move away from the roads and allowed them to construct structures above the gutter and carry out business. Further, since after setting up shops above the gutter BMC has not been renewing the gumasta licence of the shopkeepers. Because of frequent threats of demolition it is alleged that in 2009 the shop owners each contributed around 7,000 and paid about 2 lakhs

Bottle of petrol flung on Newspaper distributor at Santacruz

Mahesh Surve who resides at Nallasapora has been distributing newspapers outside Santacruz (E) station for the past ten years. He is the main distributor of 'Times of India' newspapers for Santacruz. It was a few days ago as usual he left his home around 3.15am to catch the first train from Nallasapora to reach Santacruz by 5am in the morning. After reaching Santacruz he began segregating the newspapers for distribution. In the meanwhile, one Santosh Bane who has his newspaper stall at Dattamandir junction threw a bottle of petrol on the newspapers and then lit the newspapers on fire. In the melee, Mahesh Surve who  was taken unaware sustained burn wounds on his hand and leg. He was rushed to V.N Desai Hospital for treatment and later shifted to R.K.Hospital, Santacruz. He is recuperating from his burn injuries. Santosh Bane, the accused who threw the bottle of petrol rushed to the Vakola police station and admitted his guilt. He was arrested by the Vakola Police. While visiting Mahesh Surve at R.K.Hospital he spoke to Santacruz Patrika and said,"Santosh Bane used to frequently collect daily newspaper from me and I fail to understand the motive behind the attack. I was very lucky not to have sustained grievous burn injuries as  I immediately removed my shirt and flung it away. Otherwise I would have  received burn wounds on my chest which could prove fatal." It was also due to the help of some commuters who helped in drowsing the fire from turning fatal.," admitted Mahesh. Mahesh's wife too who was at his bedside in the hospital was shocked of the incident.

Lady snatched of chain at Vakola finally dies of injury

It was on Republic Day when Lasmi Nautiyal, aged 40 years and residing at Aasra Apts, Vakola was returning home after attending Republic Day function at Public High School. Lasmi was a teacher at Public High School. While on her way to home she noticed three men following her. After having reached the gate of Aasra Apartments building, St Anthony’s Road, Vakola, Lasmi stood for a moment and wanted the men to go ahead. After the men went into the building Lasmi took courage and entered the building. She then pressed for the lift but to her disappointment the lift was not working. Lasmi then decided to walk the stairs. While reaching the first floor she was stopped by one of the men who inquired with her as to where do a youth named Vilas resides. As Lasmi informed the man that nobody by the name of Vilas resides in the building, the man attacked her and grabbed her gold chain. While she shouted for help she was was banged against the wall.
In this incident the Vakola police arrested three persons on charges of attempt to murder and theft. The police had registered an attempt-to-murder, a case after Nautiyal's neighbour Narayan Dastehkar helped nab one of the chain-snatchers accused. Dastehkar also sustained injuries after being attacked with a chopper by one of the accomplices of the accused.
The extent of Nautiyal's injury was known only a couple of days after the incident. She had been shifted from the intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU to high dependency unit (HDU), where she was being treated for temporary contusion intracerebral hemotoma. A type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that causes bruising of the brain tissue, a hematoma involves heavy bleeding into or around the brain area. The severity of TBI can range from mild concussion to the extremes of coma or even death.
Her brother who flew down from Australia after he received the news stated that his sister fell down the staircase and probably suffered internal injuries. The following day, she had an appointment with her cardiologist but skipped the meeting with the doctor as she went to Sion Hospital to enquire about Dastehkar's health who was also seriously injured in the incident. Dastehkar suffered an injury below his eye, but was fortunate to recover soon after being admitted to Sion Hospital.
Unfortunately, Lasmi had undergone a heart operation a few years ago. Now, after the incident a cardiologist found that she was giving incoherent replies and therefore advised her to take a CT scan. The CT scan report confirmed that she had suffered internal bleeding. As soon as she fell unconscious, Lasmi was admitted to the hospital. Suddenly, a few days ago Lasmi had trouble eating and drinking. Also her blood pressure began to fluctuate. She was taken to a Nursing Home and since her condition deteriorated she was shifted to KEM Hospital where she breathed her last. Her funeral was taken on Gudi Padva day. She is survived by a 15-year-old daughter studying in St Charles High School who recently gave her Xth examination.

Major fire engulfed a six-storey building in Kalina

A major fire broke out in a six-storey commercial building in Kalina area of Santacruz on Friday afternoon. No casualties or injuries were reported. The incident occurred around 1:30 pm at the Diamond Square near Kalina University. The fire started from the left wing of the building and destroyed the left facade of the building. It later spread across the upper floors, said officials. “It seems that the fire might have been caused by a short circuit from the electrical installations on the first and second floor,” said Chief Fire Officer Uday Tatkare. “The building did not have any fire fighting system,” say officials. “There was no fire detection equipment in the building.” “According to the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act 2006, new buildings that are above 15-meter should have a well-equipped fire safety system based on the height of the building, occupancy of the building and the fire hazards. This building is around 22 metre tall,” said a fire official. The new law does not specify that how should the old buildings equip themselves with fire-fighting system, he said.
“Employees working in the building were able to evacuate safely. The building has two staircases on either sides,” said Tatkare. “Many employees were outside the building as it was lunch hour. As soon as we saw the fire from outside, we alerted all the people inside,” said Sudhir Panchal, an employee of an office in the building. Panic spread in the adjacent Golden Square residential complex minutes after the fire broke out. However, quick thinking saved the rapidly-spreading fire from reaching the neighbouring premises. "Some youngsters from our building ran out the minute they saw the fire and took cars out of the Diamond Square complex. Some glass structures had to be broken to take the cars out. Had the cars not been taken out of the complex, they would have caught fire and the flames would have spread to our building as well," said a resident.

India on top of the World

As soon as Mahendra Singh Dhoni brought up India’s victory in the final of the 2011 cricket World Cup with a huge six, the entire nation erupted into wild celebrations with people pouring out on the streets, bursting fire crackers, shouting slogans and waving the tri-colour. It was the biggest party on earth to mark the triumph that had eluded the nation for the past 28 years. The win was even sweeter as it came after most had lost hope of a victory after the crucial wickets of Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar fell early. The victory target of 275 set by Sri Lanka was not easy either, especially considering the pressure cooker scenario of a World Cup final. Only two sides had won the coveted trophy batting second before last night’s epic battle and a home team had never won the title before. But, the 33,000-strong crowd at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai would have settled for nothing less than a win.
Tendulkar had scored centuries against England and South Africa to take his tally of international centuries to 99 and all Mumbai had been praying for him to score the 100th in his native town. However, Malinga had other ideas and after an assured start by Tendulkar, who at the age of 37 is unlikely to play in another World Cup, had him caught behind the stumps. But Tendulkar, the ultimate team man, was just happy to be part of a winning outfit at his sixth World Cup and he was carried on the shoulders of his team mates around the ground after the best final since Pakistan beat England in 1992. "He`s carried the burden of the nation for 21 years so it`s time we carried him on our shoulders," said Virat Kohli, summing up the feelings of a billion of his compatriots. In a reminder, if it were needed, that no individual is bigger than the team, Tendulkar`s early exit gave an opportunity to Gautam Gambhir and captain Dhoni to take their side to victory.
Dhoni, who joins Kapil Dev as the only two Indian captains to lift the World Cup, said the team had set their sights on the World Cup 18 months to two years ago. "Whatever we were doing on the field we had a long-term goal," he said. "Just by having a target in mind doesn`t mean you will win the World Cup.” "We prepared well for the World Cup, we tried to keep each and every individual fit. We tried to keep the best XI in the best form.” "We peaked at the right time, we wanted to win it for each other." "We played like champions and we deserve to win", player of the tournament Yuvraj Singh declared. "We batted like champions and we saved a lot of runs on the field," Yuvraj said after he was handed Player of the Tournament award by ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat. Yuvraj, who had said that he was playing the World Cup for a "special person", dedicated his award to the team, his two gurus and parents.
"This (winning the 50-over format World Cup) is unbelievable. Under-19 World Cup, then Twenty20 World Cup but this is the most special," he said. "(This is) for Sachin, for everyone else in the team. I want to dedicate this to my Guru Ram Singh and Guru Ajit Singh and my parents and friends," he said. An emotional Sachin Tendulkar admitted that Saturday was the "proudest day of my life". "Couldn`t have asked for more. This is ultimate. It is the proudest moment of my life," said Tendulkar in an emotionally choked voice. "I thank the team for putting up a fabulous performance and playing consistent cricket," the maestro added. Tendulkar who did a lap of honour on shoulder of his teammates said that there was tears in his eyes once Dhoni hit that six. "Yes, they were happy tears. So I don`t mind. We have stuck together through ups and down," stated the smiling legend. And as the match ended the party had just begun.

Wild celebrations erupted every time a Sri Lankan wicket fell and then with each boundary hit by India`s batsmen. Cheers became louder after Dhoni completed 6000 runs in one day cricket and then reaching his half century, sending esctatic fans into a frenzy. "This night will never to be forgotten", said a neighbourhood of Dhoni. It was Diwali once more on the streets of Mumbai, the venue of the final, as fireworks lit up the night sky and the playing of musical instruments like drums reverberated throughout the city as the "biggest party on the planet" began.

‘Investigate sources of funds’of Kripashankar Singh

Almost a year after giving clean chit to Congress MLA from Kalina Kripashankar Singh, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has decided to renew its probe and investigate if some interest-free loans received by the Congress leader had any link with money laundering. The additional solicitor general, Darius Khambata, on Thursday assured the Bombay high court that the agency will investigate if any offence had taken place in transfer of the interest-free loans and if it was a scheduled offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The assurance came after the division bench of chief justice Mohit Shah and justice DG Karnik questioned him: “What about the so-called interest-free loans?” The income tax (I-T) department, which has completed its probe into the assets held by the Congress leader and his family members, had stumbled upon the interest-free loans during the course of its investigation. It is, however, not clear as to how much amount had been transferred to Singh’s account by way of the interest-free loans, as Khambata submitted the I-T investigation report to the court in a sealed cover.
The judges also suggested that the ED should also probe if the funds were connected with any of the accused involved in offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. To this, Khambata said that though the source of the interest-free loans had been identified, the ED will further probe the matter to ascertain if the funds were proceeds of any crime. During course of hearing on a Public Interest Litigation filed by city-resident Sanjay Tiwari, the judges also asked why the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) had not so far registered any offence against Singh. Advocate general Ravi Kadam answered the query stating the ACB had prima facie found a case of disproportionate assets against Singh and his wife. He clarified that an opportunity is given to the public servant to explain the assets allegedly disproportionate to his known sources of income before registering an FIR. The couple would be given an opportunity to explain their allegedly excess assets of about Rs1.81 crore, Kadam added.
Tiwari had sought setting up of a special investigating team to probe alleged accumulation of unaccounted wealth by Singh and his family members. He had listed numerous immovable properties purchased by the Congress leader and his family members, and cash transactions running into crores of rupees reflected in their bank accounts. Replying to the PIL, the ED had in March last year informed the high court that it had found no direct evidence linking Singh to the Madhu Koda money laundering scam. The division bench directed the three agencies — ED, ACB and I-T department — to share their reports, conduct further probe, and submit another report by April 28.