The governments have changed, but the situation remains unchanged
Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts Brand Story
The state government has worked out a plan to construct the multi-story towers on the land reserved for fishermen housing at Sewri in South Central Mumbai, in the name of SRA and to sell the flats to the rich and earn crores of rupees, office bearers of Koli Samaj Coop Housing Society alleged while speaking to the Sprouts.
The state government had allotted 28 plots of land for fishermen’s housing to Koli Samaj Coop Housing Society before 60 years on the lease of 999years. Of these, the housing colonies were set up on 16 plots. In the meanwhile over 200 unauthorized hutments mushroomed on the remaining 12 plots. Now the number of unauthorized huts has crossed 750. They have also been given a photo pass by the state housing department granting them legitimacy.
The claim of 56 fisher folks on these 12 plots has been pending for the last 60 years. Besides, their population has also grown manifold in these 60 years. Society has demanded that they should get the houses as per the government housing policy and should be given permission to carry out repairs to some of the dilapidated buildings in the area.
“The state government has made SRA applicable to this area and under the pretext of the SRA the government is planning to construct multi-story towers and oust the sons-of-soil. However, we will oppose this sinister design tooth and nail.”
Nandkumar Shivdikar
President,
Koli Samaj Coop Housing Society
