Three days after a major demolition drive in Mumbai’s Mankhurd area, thousands of residents are still struggling to find shelter, food, and basic necessities.
On April 8, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) cleared 1,200 to 2,000 structures at Sahityaratna Annabhau Sathe Nagar along the Ghatkopar Mankhurd Link Road, leaving an estimated 1,400 to 2,000 families homeless. Authorities said the action targeted unauthorised constructions on government land. However, for residents, the demolition came as a sudden shock. Many families were unable to save their belongings, important documents, or school materials. Children, women, and elderly people spent nights in the open without proper shelter. “We have nowhere to go. They say our houses were illegal,” Mumtaz Shaikh, whose family lost their home in the drive, told Mumbai Mirror.
Legal Questions And Relief Concerns
The demolition has raised serious concerns about rehabilitation and basic human rights. Advocate Faiyaz Alam Shaikh, as per the Mumbai Mirror report, has approached the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission, stating that the action violates Article 21, which guarantees the right to life and shelter.
Residents and activists have questioned whether proper verification was done before the demolition. Some claim that houses built before 2011, which may qualify for protection or rehabilitation, were also demolished.
Bilal Khan, a social activist, told Mumbai Mirror, “Authorities are required to verify documents before demolition. Instead, they appear to have relied on satellite imagery.” For now, families are focusing on survival. Access to clean water, food and sanitation remains limited in the area. Many have taken temporary shelter in nearby locations, while others continue to live on the roadside.
Experts say affected residents can seek legal help, approach local authorities for rehabilitation, and file complaints with human rights bodies if proper procedures were not followed.
