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Demolition Drive in Nalasopara Leaves Over 200 Families Homeless
The demolition of illegal buildings in Nalasopara East’s Agarwal Nagari continues under a High Court order, with the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) razing 10 buildings so far. The action, which began on Thursday, has rendered over 200 families homeless, forcing many to take shelter under makeshift tarpaulin roofs near the debris of their former homes.
The residents, many of whom are daily wage earners and beneficiaries of the government’s Ladli Behna Yojana, expressed outrage and sorrow over the drive. “We don’t want money from the Ladli Behna Yojana; we want our homes back,” said Neha Jaiswal, one of the displaced residents.
The civic body launched the demolition drive with heavy police security, evacuating residents from the buildings before using bulldozers to flatten them. Many families, including women, children, and the elderly, were left in tears, pleading with the authorities to stop the action. Police were deployed to manage protests, but residents complained of being ignored and mistreated.
“We bought our house 15 years ago with money saved from taxi earnings,” said Sarita Singh, whose house was demolished on Friday. “Now, my son’s education and our future are in jeopardy. The government and courts have been unjust to us.”
The displaced families alleged betrayal by political representatives, who had assured them before the elections that their homes would not be touched. “None of the politicians who gave us false promises are standing with us today,” said a tearful Sarita Singh. Many residents vowed never to vote again, citing false assurances as a reason for their current plight.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Surendra Singh Raj criticized the authorities for allowing the illegal buildings to come up in the first place. “Why didn’t officials act when these buildings were being constructed? Strict action must be taken against the builders and corrupt officials involved in this fraud,” he said, demanding that their assets be confiscated and used to compensate the displaced families.
