Mumbai: BMC, authorities relocate 73 families to new homes after Malad wall collapse tragedy

Mumbai: Three years after their accident, 73 families in Malad were given possession of brand-new homes. 32 people were killed in a building collapse in 2019 in the Malad East neighbourhood of Ambedkar Nagar and Pimpri Pada. 156 families were being relocated from the area to a safer location at the time by BMC. 83 of the 155 families have already received their houses.

The remaining 73 now have homes in Malad as well. BMC organised a lottery to win several homes under Project Affected People last week (PAP).

Last year families protested for almost 100 days demanding rehabilitation. Now, their grievances have been heard by BMC and they will soon shift to 225 sq. ft. rooms in Appa Pada.

"Earlier, the 84 families were allotted accommodation in Mahul at a Project-Affected People [PAP] building. However, the rehabilitation of 73 other families was pending. These 73 families have been suffering for the last three years. Every monsoon, during heavy rain, their belongings are swept away, and they are left fearing for life. All that has been done to help them is to shift them to a temporary shelter every year during the monsoon. The BMC commissioner agreed to our demands to help relocate these affected residents and provide them homes," said Mishra, former BJP corporator from Kurar village.

These inhabitants were supposed to be relocated to a 90-acre plot at the Aarey colony, but that plan has not yet come to pass. In order to assist those who have been residing on forest property since 1985, the state government set aside the plot and defined it in the Development Plan 2014–2034. On property surrounded by forests, the locals have constructed concrete homes with one or two floors over the years. A top BMC representative added, "We will divulge the specifics after the shifting procedure is finished. We are unable to discuss it at this time. Our top objective is moving residents to a safer location."