Welcome to the 'Venice of the east' project of UNICELL 6000 such letters were delivered to middle and upper middle localities. The letters evoked responses (on the email) that ranged from panic stricken to acerbic. But this gave UNICELL an opportunity to engage with them about the issue.
Some of the letters are produced below.1."Asshole next time when you even think of making an artistic project thin about the feasibility of this to. Your notice has been forwarded to the Juhu police station fir no JH / 06 / 732 and even to Times of India, see it in the new paper tomorrow"
Dear Ms.
Thank you for your letter, Certainly I am aware that the proposal for making 'Mumbai into the Venice of the East' by UNICELL is not feasible... As unfeasible as making Mumbai into Shanghai !! One cannot run a bulldozer over people's homes and create a 'better' future for the city. If we talk of progress, every citizen has to have a share in it. May I request you to kindly spare a little time and go through the articles and other links provided on the web page that show the inhumanity and apathy behind the slum demolitions that have dis-housed 90,000 families. The project was not to create a network of canals but actually a network of people and ideas that will repel the atrocious policies that leave a whole section out of the planning for the future. Positively, Tushar Joag2. "I HAVE RECIEVED A LETTER STATING THAT I HAVE TO LEAVE MY HOUSE AND THAT THE PWC IS DEMOLISHING THE BUILDING. THE QUESTION IS THAT WHY SHOULD WE AS JUHU CITIZENS RESIDE IN DOMBIVALI OR VIRAR. AND HOW MUCH COMPENSATION WOULD WE BE PAID FOR LEAVING THE PREMISES. ALSO THE MONSOONS ARE EXPECTED IN 6 DAYS,SO HOW DO YOU THINK THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO MANAGE TO EVICT THE BUILDING IN SUCH A SMALL PERIOD OF TIME. PLEASE WRITE BACK TO MY EMAIL ADDRESS IF YOU THINK YOUR PLANNINGS WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.
Dear Mr.,
Thank you for your letter. This is a mock project aimed at drawing attention to the issue of the callous demolition drive by the Government of Maharashtra ... without any rehabilitation or compensation whatsoever.
In earlier cases whenever rehabilitation was offered it was at the back of beyond- far away from the places that the slum dwellers had been serving( in domestic households/ sweatshops etc )or conducting business ( vending vegetables etc or mending cars etc). leaving them with no means of earning a honest livelihood- marginalising them even further.
The proposal for making 'Mumbai into the Venice of the East' by UNICELL is of course not real... It is as unreal as making Mumbai into Shanghai !! One cannot run a bulldozer over people's homes and create a 'better' future for the city. If we talk of progress, every citizen has to have a share in it.
May I request you to kindly spare a little time and go through the articles and other links provided on the web page that show the inhumanity and apathy behind the slum demolitions that have dis-housed 90,000 families. The project was not to create a network of canals but actually a network of people and ideas that will repel the atrocious policies that leave a whole section out of the planning for the future.
Positively, Tushar Joag3. "We have received an EVICTION NOTICE not even addressed to anybody saying that our building occupy the route of canal F24D under URS and that building should be demolished before monsoon and we will be accommodated in a refugee camp. Kindly clarify whether this is applicable to our society.
Dear Mr.
Thank you for your letter. This is a mock project aimed at drawing attention to the issue of the callous demolition drive by the Government of Maharashtra.The proposal for making 'Mumbai into the Venice of the East' by UNICELL is of course not real... It is as unreal as making Mumbai into Shanghai!! One cannot run a bulldozer over people's homes and create a 'better' future for the city. If we talk of progress, every citizen has to have a share in it.
May I request you to kindly spare a little time and go through the articles and other links provided on the web page that show the inhumanity and apathy behind the slum demolitions that have dis-housed 90,000 families.
The project was not to create a network of canals but actually a network of people and ideas that will repel the atrocious policies that leave a whole section out of the planning for the future.
Positively, Tushar Joag4. "Dear Sir,
I have received your notice of eviction/demolition by some unknown person (just dropped the notice at Society premises) without any prior information and without any of the following,
1. Notice was not signed by authority
2. Not addressed to any body
3. No map plan/ master plan given
4. No hearing was done Kindly look in to this matter and inquire what the truth behind this is or some vested interest is doing to defame and tarnish the image of BMC and its associated departments. Regards,Dear Mr.
Thank you for your letter. UNICELL Public Works Cell is not a department of the BMC. The only vested interest is to try to open up a dialogue on the issue of the callous demolition drive by the BMC / Government of Maharashtra. What might transpire here is that the BMC has worked hard enough to defame or tarnish its own image and we can only hold a candle to it!
The proposal for making 'Mumbai into the Venice of the East' by UNICELL is of course not real... It is as unreal as making Mumbai into Shanghai !! One cannot run a bulldozer over people's homes and create a 'better' future for the city. If we talk of progress, every citizen has to have a share in it.
May I request you to kindly spare a little time and go through the articles and other links provided on the web page that show the inhumanity and apathy behind the slum demolitions that have dis-housed 90,000 families.
The project was not to create a network of canals but actually a network of people and ideas that will repel the atrocious policies that leave a whole section out of the planning for the future.
Positively, Tushar Joag5. "Why the hell did you send us a letter of such kind, you asshole."
Dear Mr/ Ms Thank you for your kind inquiry...but if you spared some time and actually went through the web page (from where you have sent this response) and the links on it, you may have perhaps guessed!!
Well if not... it was to draw attention to the issue of the callous demolition drive by the Government of Maharashtra.
The proposal for making 'Mumbai into the 'Venice of the East' by UNICELL is of course not real... It is as unreal as making Mumbai into Shanghai. One cannot run a bulldozer over people's homes and create a 'better' future for the city. If we talk of progress, every citizen has to have a share in it.
more info at ... you guessed right- www.unicellpwc.org/venice.htm
Warm regards, Tushar Joag.6. "Sir, Your dream to provide canal transportation for Mumbai is not practically physible. Today I got your printed pamphlet " Notice for eviction / demolition" without any name/signature from your side. But written "By Order, Public Works Cell, Mumbai. Do you have your own address? Do you have your Phone Nos? Who has authorized you ? All the people are not conversant with internet web site.
I am not a hutment. So you can provide me alternative rehabilitation at Virar, Dahanu, Dombivali or Vangani ! You are having no right to issue such a notice to the individual member of the registered co-op society directly. First of all you please stop harassment by issuing such a notice to the individual members of the registered Co-op. Housing societies. First you should have contacted to the secretary of Co-operative Society.
I have not read any where so called project to build canals from Powai lake. There is also no news about your so-called project in the local newspapers, TV etc. There is no such statement neither from Municipal corporation nor from Govt. of Maharashtra. On whose behalf you have issued such a notice to me. Please reply within seven days otherwise I must compelled to take this matter with Municipal Commissioner & Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
With hope to receive your reply soon."
Dear Tushar Joag, Thank you for your reply. But I am not happy at all with your reply.
You have not give reply to the question raised in my e mail. (Earlier I wrote that in your printed pamphlet " Notice for eviction / demolition" without any name/signature from your side. But written "By Order, Public Works Cell, Mumbai. Do you have your own address ? Do you have your Phone Nos ? Who has authorized you ? All the people are not conversant with internet web site. I am not a hutment. So you can provide me alternative rehabilitation at Virar, Dahanu, Dombivali or Vangani ! You are having no right to issue such a notice to the individual member of the registered co-op society directly. First of all you please stop harassment by issuing such a notice to the individual members of the registered Co-op. Housing societies. First you should have contacted to the secretary of Co-operative Society. I have not read any where so called project to build canals from Powai lake. There is also no news about your so-called project in the local newspapers, TV etc. There is no such statement neither from Municipal corporation nor from Govt. of Maharashtra. On whose behalf you have issued such a notice to me. Please reply within seven days otherwise I must compelled to take this matter with Municipal Commissioner & Chief Minister of Maharashtra.)
My dear who has authorised you to do such mock project and issue a hard notice to society memebers directly ? That too before start of monsoon the building where we live is to be demolished. By issuing such notice some ill-healthy elder person will sure get heart attack ! what was your aim fro issuing such notice ? Why you have wasted stationeries and man power ?
You wrote: "The proposal for making 'Mumbai into the Venice of the East' by UNICELL is of course not real..." THEN WHY YOU HAVE SENT NOTICE ? What was your aim ?
You wrote: "May I request you to kindly spare a little time and go through the articles and other links provided on the web page". After reading your complete web site only I have written my earlier e mail. There was no concrete suggetion / opinion from you for demolition of hut. It was a great confusion that where you stand regarding eviction/demolition of huts on private/Govt land.
You wrote "The project was not to create a network of canals" then my dear friend why you have created such a nonsense notice of eviction / demolition of registered society flats / building.
Hope to receive appropriate & satisfactory reply with above asked questions.Dear Mr. Thanks for your continued interest in the matter.
Most of your queries are actually answered in the article Titled Mumbai Evictions -a survey by YUVA. But here goes-
The Government and most of us have always displayed an attitude of apathy and DOUBLE STANDARDS.You say: "I am not a hutment. So you can provide me alternative rehabilitation at Virar, Dahanu, Dombivali or Vangani !" Can a hutment dweller be uprooted and relocated at the whim of the government or the builder?- In earlier cases whenever rehabilitation was offered it was at the back of beyond- far away from the places that the slum dwellers had been serving( in domestic households/ sweatshops etc )or conducting business ( vending vegetables etc or mending cars etc). leaving them with no means of earnig a honest livelyhood. Marginalising them even further.
Mumbai Evictions:
The intention to make Mumbai a world-class city seems to be the main agenda of the State and other beneficiaries behind these rampant forced evictions. The main argument provided by the state for all these processes is that around 80% of the people who came to Mumbai after 1995 are on Municipal or Government - owned land and "pose a challenge to Development plans of Mumbai". However this applies only to the poor; because those who have power in terms of money, political pressure, resources, etc. are welcomed to the city with garlands and bouquet of flowers. This has turned the tide against the poor in general with the message that 'you don't count anymore in the planning'. An act of sheer discrimination!....... No legal intimation or notice was given to the communities residing in these settlements. Neither was any relocation option was given to them. As this land has to be used for "Mumbai's development", one that is out of reach of those displaced."
You say: "You are having no right to issue such a notice to the individual member of the registered co-op society directly. First of all you please stop harassment by issuing such a notice to the individual members of the registered Co-op. Housing societies. First you should have contacted to the secretary of Co-operative Society."
But-....
Mumbai Evictions:
The Supreme Court had stated in of the cases that the Right to Housing includes adequate living spaces, decent structure and clean surrounding. In 1997, it specified; " it is the duty of the State to construct houses at reasonable rates and make them easily accessible to the poor. The State has the constitutional duty to provide shelter to make the right to life meaningful". India's international obligations under various conventions also emphasize the state's duty to house the poor. The UN Commission on Human Rights in its Resolution on Forced Evictions emphasized: "The practice of forced eviction constitutes a gross violation of human rights, in particular, the right to housing".Despite these decisions of the Apex court and in spite of the country's commitments in the National Habitat and Housing Policy and in the face of our international commitments slum dwellers who have lived in the city for years have their homes demolished without notice or alternative accommodation and without any real 'public purpose', finding themselves vulnerable and powerless against the elements of nature day in and day out.
You say:
By issuing such notice some ill-healthy elder person will sure get heart attack ! what was your aim fro issuing such notice ?Mumbai Evictions:
Out of the reported cases, two children, 3 adults and an old man has succumbed to the extreme climatic conditions. The conditions are deteriorating by the day with children being out of schools and moving towards a bleak future, women are under constant threat of abuse.You ask me:
"Why you have wasted stationeries and man power ?"Mumbai Evictions:
Force Used to Evict Force Used No. of Vehicle No. of Officals Police 247 2996 BMC 128 993 Bulldozer 87 Total 462 3989 As we see in Table 3 above, there have been close to 3000 police and around 1000 BMC workers designated for the task of demolition.
In 1984, it cost the MCGM INR 1000/- to demolish a single hut, as per a statement made by Mr. G R Khairnar, Mumbai's former Deputy Municipal Commissioner in-charge of demolishing illegal structures, popularly known as the "Demolition Man". In that regard, its simple math to calculate the losses incurred in recent demolitions of 90,000 such huts.
TABLE 1
EXTENT OF DEMOLITION Demolished once 2 - 5 times More than 5 times Community 8 14 6 Household 1250 17688 4594 TABLE 2
COST OF DEMOLITION Household INR 4,70,64000 @ INR 2000 per hutment Land INR 11,76,60000@ INR 5000 per hutment Amenities INR 2,35,32000 @ INR 1000 per hutment Total INR 188,256,000 Table 1 details out the extent of demolition in the recent times. Table 2 estimates the loss incurred by the people per household based on the extent of demolition. Do note that these details are referring to only 23532 hutments out of the total hutments demolished.
If the same amount of money was used to provide low cost housing, there would not be slums - the so-called 'bane' to the formation of Mumbai into a world class city like Shanghai - in the first place.
I hope I have answered your queries satisfactorily. Regards, Tushar
7. "We are the Consultants for Infrastructure Developments. Kindly provide the name and address and contact no. of the concerned person.
" You may correspond on this address with your concerns. Regards, Tushar Joag
8. "I must say you really created quite a havoc amongst people in my colony. I commend you for your very smart effort of getting people of the concrete world to notice the problem of the people living in Shanties. The Unicell demolition was the talk of my area. i thought i'd cover it for my reporting assignment. That is when i actually checked out this site. The only hassel was that it didnt strike anyone to check out the website.. I will be approaching the building secretary about the true purpose of Unicell. The poor folks of my building almost got into selling off their flats."
Notice for eviction /demolition
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