40 days on, Garib Nagar families await repairs as monsoon worsens living conditions

More than 40 days after 100 legitimate homes in Garib Nagar Bandra East were the damaged during the demolition drive those awaiting rehabilitation continue to suffer as delayed repairs have left many without shelter during the harsh monsoonmidday visited their homes which revealed the difficult conditions residents are facing Many alleged that despite repeated directions from the Bombay High Court the authorities have neither arranged alternative accommodation nor shown urgency in repairing the hutsWork ongoingWelding work started by the Western Railway PICSATUL KAMBLEResidents said welding work by Western Railway WR is currently underway to install a protective shade over the affected homes However they claimed the work began much later than expected and is progressing at a slow pace forcing families to continue living in unsafe conditions amid the monsoonNo electricityThe Bombay High Court had on Monday pulled up the authorities concerned for failing to restore electricity connections to the 100 eligible huts in the settlement These homes according to the courts earlier orders were meant to remain protected from the demolition drive until their occupants were rehabilitatedlsquoAuthorities had timersquoldquoWe have been out here in the open for over 40 days now Authorities had so much time to either give us alternate housing or repair our homes before the rains started but they chose to do neither We are now homeless in these heavy rains helplessly waiting to go back to our homesrdquo said Mobin Mohammad Salim Shaikh a resident from an eligible hut at Garib Nagar who has been living adjacent to a drainage stream and trash heaps for over a month nowOfficial SpeakA Western Railway spokesperson said ldquoWe are just repairing the damaged eligible huts Electricity reconnection responsibility is with the state government officials We will complete the repair work of the eligible huts in around 10 days Our repair work includes roofs floors walls doors and windows that were damaged during the demolitionrdquoVoicesMobin Mohammad Salim Shaikh 34lsquoWater is seeping into my house through adjacent walls and the structure has become weak When it rains the floor gets submerged in water The home is registered under my motherrsquos name Zulekha Shaikh and is eligible for rehabilitation We are out of our legal homes and we have been putting up with unfairness from officials We are forced to stay here under this bridge like homeless people during the rainfallrsquoReshma Shaikh 60lsquoMy home is damaged from all sides and it may even fall Authorities havenrsquot repaired it yet and rains have started We have also received no update on the alternate house I have a twomonthold grandchild How can we ensure his safety under this vulnerable structurersquoIrfan Mohammad Shaikh 28lsquoThis is our familyrsquos house the structure got damaged and weak during the demolition drive I have an 18monthold baby how are we supposed to live here Water gets to our knees when it rains Therersquos no electricity and no drinking water supply I am the sole earning member in my family I canrsquot even go to work now leaving them behind in the open Many families have lost their income because they used to earn through shops here which are gone due to demolitionrsquoRehmunisa Aslam Khan 55lsquoThis is my daughterrsquos house mdash the roof supporting columns and the walls were all damaged during the demolition Rain has started and they havenrsquot repaired it yet Water leaks in from all sides When we asked the repair staff about our home they said they arenrsquot repairing homes on our line yet How come they are denying us while our home is eligiblersquoSayyed Harul 59lsquoThis is my sonrsquos house The roof walls and gate were damaged during the demolition of adjacent huts which were ineligible He has been out of this home since then We were living under the FOB while awaiting repairs We finally saw some repairs around a week back when metal sheets were installed as a roof and walls There are still gaps that have to be closed and a door needs to be installed but the repair guys havenrsquot been back since so water still leaks in when it rainsrsquo