Mumbai: About 150 illegal squatters and drug peddlers who had taken over Versova beach for the past many years have been removed on Thursday in what is being called the biggest drive here till date. The operation, which was collectively conducted by the suburban Collector’s office, the BMC, police and residents’ associations, saw protest in the form of one person trying to self-immolate before he was arrested by the police.
For the past five years, this stretch of Mumbai’s coastline has become notorious for hundreds of illegal squatters who had not only erected hutments but also started cultivating vegetables there on a small scale. Dimly lit and an adda for drug peddlers, this was one of the least-frequented beaches in the city and the problem of open defecation only made it worse. Thus, while the nearby Juhu beach had become a major tourist attraction, this one remained neglected for many years.
Mumbai: BMC Demolition Illegal huts near by 150 at Varsova beach on Thursday… (Photo by: B L Soni) |
And so, before the recent Assembly elections, residents of this area had decided to take this issue to its rightful conclusion, and only when BJP candidate Ameet Satam assured them did the Gulmohur Area Societies Welfare association, Versova Residents’ Association, Juhu Lane Residents Association, Save Open Spaces etc extended their support to him. Even Satam stayed true to his word and on Thursday, the beach was reclaimed.
The BMC’s K-West ward office engaged 40 labourers, eight dumpers and one JCB for the drive which went on from 10.30 am to 4 pm. According to assistant municipal commissioner Parag Masurkar, a man tried to pour kerosene over himself for self-immolation but was promptly caught by the police. “The beach has always been open for the public but had gained a bad reputation. Now the police is considering starting a small post there so that there can be more effective patrolling. We have to make sure that the beach does not go into the hands of squatters again,” Masurkar said.
Mumbai : BMC Demolition Illegal huts near by 150 at Varsova beach local MLA Amit Satam visit on spot on Thursday… (Photo by: B L Soni) |
“This was a part of our plan to protect and beautify Versova beach. But people have to take over from here now. They have to be more vigilant and report any illegal activity either to the deputy collector’s office, tehsildar office or simply to the ward office and we will take action,” said Shekhar Channe, suburban district collector.
Hailing this as an achievement of citizens’ groups, filmmaker and president of Gulmohur Area Societies Welfare association Ashoke Pandit said, “We have won a five-year old struggle. The conditions of the beach were so bad that we were worried that the slums here will be eventually regularized and the open space lost forever. We now want the beach to be adequately lit so that people start visiting in large numbers. Only then will we be able to ensure that history isn’t repeated.” Pandit also appealed to citizens to take a cue from this initiative to save Mumbai’s open spaces.
