The lottery to rehabilitate 62 project affected persons (PAP) to make way for Rs300 crore Annabhau Sathe memorial in Ghatkopar (W) has been postponed after residents urged the slum rehabilitation authority (SRA) to provide clarity on the process.
Over 220 Families Yet to Receive Details on Rehabilitation Plan in Ghatkopar
While SRA has already served final notices to the residents asking them to vacate their residences, around 220 families remain in dark about the rehabilitation scheme.
On April 2, 2024, the state government allocated a budget of Rs305.62 crore for the development of an international-level memorial in Chirag Nagar, where Dalit poet, writer and social reformer Sathe resided once upon a time. The memorial, ‘Sahityaratna Lokshahir Anna Bhau Sathe Research and Training Institute’, is said to serve as a tribute to the literary icon and his remarkable contributions with the restoration of around 220 slum rehabilitation sites.
While the locals are largely in favour of the memorial, uncertainty looms large over them about their rehabilitation plan. SRA, which is overseeing the restoration and rehabilitation project, served final notices to 62 houses last week asking them to submit their documents and vacate their houses.
However, the lottery which was supposed to be held on July 29, has now been postponed indefinitely after a representation from the residents, said an SRA official. “We received a representation from the residents who asked for more clarity in the rehabilitation process. We have postponed the lottery and will announce a further date,” said the official.
Annabhau Sathe Memorial | File Image
Residents Fear Relocation to Quarantine Centre, Accuse Netas of Abandoning Them
Notably, the residents fear that since the authority has not revealed the location of the PAP units, they will be rehabilitated outside Ghatkopar or in any nearby downscale locality. Sunil Raghavan, who lives in Sawantwadi and has been served an eviction notice for his shop in the locality, said, “I have even submitted my documents and am waiting for eligibility approval. People don't know what will be their fate as the authorities are not giving clarity. We have heard that people will be shifted to the temporary quarantine centre in Azad Nagar built during the Covid-19 pandemic but nobody wants to go there as it is in bad shape.”
SRA Says First Phase Units Located Near Azad Nagar, No Developers Appointed
The SRA official said, “For this project, we will not be appointing developers to construct new settlement units but the PAPs will be rehabilitated at the available units in the nearby vicinity. The first phase lottery for 62 units will be rehabilitated at a PAP unit available around 200 mtr behind Azad Nagar.”
The residents expressed resentment against their elected representatives accusing them of making high promises when the project was announced and have left them hanging midway during such a crucial time. Suman Chopdekar, who has been residing in Chirag Nagar’s Sawantwadi for the last 29 years, said, “We were promised that we will get school, hospital and garden along with the memorial but here we are clueless about our own rehabilitation. We think that we might not submit our documents until we get clarity about rehabilitation otherwise we will not be able to deny a bad residence.”
