Mumbai: Following the postponement of the first phase of lottery to rehabilitate the project affected persons (PAPs) in Ghatkopar’s Chirag Nagar to make way for Annabhau Sathe Memorial, the chairman of Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar)’s minority wing in Mumbai has urged the chief minister to relocate the project to Mumbai University or other suitable government land prevent displacement of the residents.
Lottery to Rehabilitate PAPs Postponed
On Tuesday, The Free Press Journal reported that the lottery to rehabilitate 62 PAP to make way for Rs 305 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 in the Dark on Rehabilitation
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.
NCP (SP) Minority Wing Seeks CM’s Intervention
Following the report, NCP (SP)’s minority wing has sought chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ intervention regarding the proposed construction of the memorial for Sathe, who was a noted Dalit poet, writer and social reformer. Through the letter, dated July 29, the minority wing’s chairman Suhel Khalil Subedar has warned the execution of the proposal at the site will lead to the forced displacement of hundreds of local residents.
Call to Shift Memorial to Kalina or Mandala
Subedar asked the CM to recommend SRA’s chief executive officer that the memorial be relocated to a more suitable government land. He suggested it can be shifted to Mumbai University’s Kalina Campus, where it can gain academic value and visibility, or Mandala village, which has available government land and would not displace any existing settlements.
Demand to Preserve Annabhau Sathe’s Home
He also urged that the Dalit poet’s existing house in Chirag Nagar should be preserved and converted into a modest heritage memorial.
Support for Memorial, But Not Forced Evictions
“Chirag Nagar is a long established community where several families have been residing peacefully for over 50 years and many of them belong to the economically weaker section, claimed Subedar. The residents fully support the idea of establishing a memorial to honour Annabhau Sathe, who is an icon of Maharashtra and a voice of the oppressed. However, this must not come at the cost of displacing a settled and vulnerable population,” said Subedar.
