Forest Department Undertakes Demolition of Cheeta Camp, 600 Muslim Families to be Rendered Homeless

Without providing means of rehabilitation to the affected families, the Maharashtra Forest Department has begun its “largest demolition drive” in mangrove areas in Mumbai on May 7, starting with bulldozing hutments of Cheeta Camp – a Muslim-majority slum in Trombay with over 600 households. The forest department had earlier notified that Bheemchhaya, a Dalit-majority slum in Kannamwar Nagar, with 800 households will be demolished on a later date.

Bilal Khan, representing Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan, a Mumbai based NGO, said that the government’s action is rendering the poor homeless. “Despite the Maharashtra government’s populist claims such as ‘Housing for All’ and ‘Affordable Housing’, today the households of Cheeta Camp have become homeless. While the residents of this settlement possess ration cards, which record their annual income less than Rs 1 lakh, how can these poor people get another home in Mumbai?” questioned Bilal Khan.

“During the demolition, the officials did not even let the people collect their own household things. Earlier, the local police had threatened the Muslim youth of dire consequences if they try to resist the demolition drive,” Khan said. These demolitions are being done “without following the due process of law and making enough provisions for grievance redressal.”

Khan further said that these slums (Cheeta Camp and Bheemchhaya) are protected under the Maharashtra Slum Act, but the forest department is disrespecting the housing rights of the slum dwellers by refusing to rehabilitate them. He added, “In Bheemchhaya, the Forest Department has issued orders of demolition on false grounds, without providing the aggrieved slum dwellers any mechanism to appeal against the order. This action will amount to violation of section 3 of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, which prohibits eviction of the member of a Dalit community without following due process of law.”

Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan is preparing for a legal battle in order to protect the slum dwellers.

“This government is disregarding the vulnerabilities of the Dalits and minority communities in this country by demolishing their only shelter. This will lead to further marginalisation of these communities,” said Khan.

Apart from Cheeta Camp and Bheemchhaya, it has been reported that the forest department officials had earlier proposed demolition in various areas in the city including Malad and Colaba.