Encroachment of land in Mumbai
Converting public land for private luxury residences prioritises the luxury of a few over the lives of millions
In Mumbai, the average citizen's struggle mirrors that of the impoverished farmer in Tagore's Dui Bigha Jomi, where the man pleads for his meager plot of land. However, the current plight of the Mumbaikar is far worse, as he has no recourse to challenge the builders who control the land. Large tracts of mill lands, gardens, and prime plots near Railway stations have been seized to construct lavish malls and high-rise buildings, leaving the common man with no land to call his own.
A prime example is a plot near the Sea Link bridge, owned by a billionaire realty company, which was walled off despite being used by Sion Hospital for over 25 years. This is due to the fact that one of the alleged builderdars, who have become the new zamindars, is a Guardian Minister for Mumbai. Despite the urgent need for additional space at Sion Hospital to accommodate patients, outpatient, inpatient, and medical college activities, the plot has been taken over by the builderdars for luxury apartment construction.
The common Mumbaikar is left helpless, with no ability to meet the builderdars or plead his case. The courts must take decisive action by investigating all existing public land in Mumbai and its suburbs, and freezing any further conversion of these lands for private luxury residences. This is a matter of life and death for many Mumbaikars and the very survival of the city itself.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
