7/28/2019 Memorandum Submitted to Karnataka Congress Committee on Demolitions in Ejipura and Golibar

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To,

Dr G Parameshwara

The President,

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee,

Bangalore.

Subject: The land grab and eviction of slum dwellers in EWS Quarters, Ejipura and Khar Golibar, Mumbai

Respected Sir,

This memo is to highlight the issue of slum demolitions happening under Congress-NCP rule in Maharashtra and

the demolitions in Bangalore in which the BJP government has played an active part with what appears to be the

support of a Congress MLA and corporator.

As you may already be aware, the eviction of 1512 families in EWS quarters, Ejipura has happened with brute

force and around 80 families are still living in the footpath. It is common knowledge that Maverick builders who

have been given this land in a Public Private Partnership to build a mall, is being investigated by the Lokayukta

for discrepancies in the construction and subsequent use of a parking space where Garuda mall now stands. The

residents of EWS quarters, Ejipura were not given any notice, nor was their consent taken before this agreement

was entered into. Brute force was used in the evictions, by the BBMP with the support of the police force and a

lot of women were injured and even arrested for defending the right to their homes! The concessionare

agreement point to the need for relocation until the new flats are given but was not followed, resulting in the

most vulnerable and marginalized sections of society like dalits, muslims, women and children left to fend forthemselves. The land has been given to Maverick on the claim that it is in public interest. What is the

definition of public interest and who is the public in this case?

In Khar Golibar, Mumbai, a hunger fast running into its 6 th day by Medhatai Patkar and slum dwellers is

ongoing. The corruption and nexus between the Government and Builders under the cover of the Slum

Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) in Mumbai, that has led to lakhs of slum-dwellers struggling for the basic right

to a house. The most recent example is collapse of a 8 storey building in Mumbra, constructed within a span of

2-3 months leading to death of more than 70 people. In Khar Golibar, 140 acres of land- home to 46 societies

and over 26,000 families - has been literally gifted to a single private company Shivalik Ventures, by invoking

a special clause 3K- of the SRA. This clause gives a single builder complete rights to redevelop a large slum

without inviting tenders. A small society of 323 houses in Golibar Ganesh Krupa has become the flash point

for the struggle between the SRA/Builder nexus and the Slum dwellers, ever since it slapped a case of fraud and

forgery on Shivalik Ventures, the builder that forcefully undertook the rights to their development.

In both these instances, we see that the interest of the people have been sacrificed to protect the commercial

interests of big builders. In a democracy, where the peoples representatives dont work for the interest of the

people who have elected them to power, what hope is there for the people? The coalition between Congress and

7/28/2019 Memorandum Submitted to Karnataka Congress Committee on Demolitions in Ejipura and Golibar

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BJP has shown utter disregard for vulnerable slum dwellers in Bangalore as can be seen from the EWS

evicitions and the Congress NCP coalition has done the same in Bombay as we see from the example of

Golibar.

We request you to take note of our memorandum and please clarify the stand of the Congress(I) on the rights of

the urban poor to a life of dignity in our cities.

Sincerely,

Arati Chokshi, Peoples Union for Civil Liberties, Karnataka (PUCL-K)

Gowru Chinnappa, Peoples Union for Civil Liberties, Karnataka (PUCL-K)

Maitreyi, Alternative Law Forum (ALF)

Vinay, Alternative Law Forum (ALF)

Kaveri, State Coordinator, WSS, LESBIT

Malarvizhi, Action Aid.

Sister CeliaGeeta Menon

NarsimhappaNarsimha Murthy

Sumathi Murthy, LESBIT

Rakesh, FEDINA

and others.

Supported by:

EWS Ejipura residents

Relief for EWS Ejipura Demolition Victims and its volunteers.

Forum against EWS Land Grab.