Bulldozing in Muslims dominated Mumbai’s Mohammed Ali Road
text_fields
In a series of actions targeting shops owned by members of the Muslim community under the pretext of removing encroachments, municipal authorities in the Thane district and Mumbai carried out bulldozing without any prior notice as per the rules.
The Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) initiated the crackdown by razing encroachments around 15 structures at Haidary Chowk in Mira Road. This move came just a day after clashes erupted between two nearby communities, underscoring tensions in the area.
Following suit, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) conducted a similar exercise in Mumbai, demolishing encroachments from around 40 shops on Mohammed Ali Road. BMC officials maintained that the structures were illegal encroachments impeding pedestrian movement on footpaths.
A visit to Mohammed Ali Road revealed that the demolished structures primarily consisted of awnings belonging to existing commercial establishments and stalls of hawkers. Notable among the affected establishments were longstanding businesses like Noorani Milk Centre and Suleman Usman Mithaiwala, with roots tracing back to the 1930s.
While BMC officials asserted the necessity of clearing illegal encroachments to ensure clean pavements, questions arose regarding the targeted nature of the drives. Opposition parties, including Congress, criticized the actions, labelling them biased against specific communities. They advocated for a more legal and inclusive approach to addressing unauthorized constructions.
Shop owners expressed shock at the sudden demolition, claiming they had received no prior warning or notice from civic authorities. The BMC defended its actions, citing the temporary nature of the structures and the absence of proper legal addresses for issuing notices.
Notably, this drive was confined to Mohammed Ali Road, with no reports of similar actions in other wards of Mumbai. BMC officials clarified that the ongoing "deep cleaning" initiative, aimed at removing illegal vendors and eateries from pavements, had been operational since December.
The demolition left a trail of economic losses, particularly for businesses like Suleman Usman Mithaiwala, which reported damages amounting to nearly Rs 2 lakh. Janata multi-cuisine restaurant, another affected establishment, estimated losses ranging from Rs 60,000 to Rs 70,000 due to the demolition of their awning.
Amidst the fallout, concerns were raised regarding the timing and motives behind the drives. Some speculated that the actions were politically motivated, coinciding with impending elections. Others criticized civic authorities' lack of transparency and communication, calling for a more consultative approach to urban planning and development.