For the second time, around 1,600 project-affected persons (PAP) in Mahul, which is surrounded by chemical factories, are not able to vote.
It was the situation during the Lok Sabha elections and again now during the Maharashtra Assembly. “It really pains us. Our names were removed from the voter list when we started protesting and demanding to be shifted out and rehabilitated from this hell hole,” said Anita Dhole, a resident.
“It really pinches to not be able to exercise our constitutional right in democracy. Times are such that those who promised us vikas (development) have only brought vinaash (destruction),” Ms. Dhole said.
Sanjay Rajouriya, another resident, said, “It feels like we don’t exist and we are invisible. I would have surely opted for NOTA but it is very important to vote. The government has just snatched this away from us for demanding our right.”
On September 24, the Bombay High Court said no more families should be shifted there till alternative accommodation was provided to current residents of Eversmile PAP Colony. The court had also ruled that ₹15,000 per month should be paid as transit rent with security deposit of ₹45,000 to each family within 12 weeks.
