The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Standing Committee on Thursday demanded that no new project-affected persons (PAPs) be sent to Mahul and instead, the corporation should give them alternative accommodation in their areas. The move follows the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board shutting down two refinery units in Mahul.
For a decade, Mahul villagers have been complaining of health issues caused by high air and water pollution levels and have been demanding the closure of two private companies. Meanwhile, more than 5,000 project affected people who lost their houses to demolition, mostly around the Tansa pipeline, have been shifted to Mahul. They, too, have been complaining of pollution-related illnesses and have demanded they be moved out.
The Hindu had reported in its June 8 edition that the MPCB has directed closure of two refinery units in the area for releasing untreated chemical effluents into the creek. Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar had visited Mahul that very day. After his visit, Sena corporator Vishakha Raut moved a motion in Thursday’s Standing Committee meeting to highlight the plight of residents.
“I moved a motion that the administration should stop sending any more PAPs to Mahul. I visited the area and the people are very unhappy with the condition there. They do not want facilities, they want to be moved out,” Ms. Raut said. Her motion was supported by corporators across party lines. The administration is expected to give a response in the next meeting.
Ms. Raut has demanded that the BMC should set aside land in every ward for the rehabilitation of PAPs.
The BMC needs to come out with a solution for the ones already moved to Mahul. Until then, no new PAPs should be sent here.
