Kurla Residents Protest Move To Allocate Dairy Land For Dharavi Revamp

Locals in Kurla have planned a protest for 23 January, the day the state administration will conduct a “land measurement” at the defunct dairy field that was intended to house displaced families.

The government-run dairy on the property closed more than ten years ago, leaving the roughly 21-acre parcel primarily covered in woods. On the other hand, Kurla inhabitants want the plot to remain a green space and oppose the housing of displaced people from different places.

The dairy closed about 17 years ago; it was reportedly founded in 1974. A portion of the land has been used to construct a viaduct for the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road and the Kurla (East) station for Metro 2B, while another portion has been used to house government personnel. The underutilised property has developed into woods with more than a thousand trees.

The land from the dairy was transferred to the revenue department by a Government Resolution issued by the Maharashtra government in June 2024. Along with land in Mulund, Wadala, and other parts of the city, the tract was chosen as one of the locations to shelter displaced people. Until last week, when building occupants near the dairy site were notified of the landmarking exercise on January 23, nothing had changed.

“We believed that the plans to purchase the plot had been cancelled,” stated Nitin Kamble of the citizens’ group Lok Chalwal. We were taken aback by the notification. Police stopped us as we attempted to assemble for a protest on Sunday.

Residents have invited political parties who oppose the proposals to join them for a planned Thursday morning gathering at the location. All of Kurla’s remaining open spaces have been destroyed by building renovations. Structures housing more than 140 people have replaced older buildings with 40 apartments.

There is no longer any open area between buildings. Traffic issues may worsen as more than 30,000 residents are displaced. There are no recreational areas or places for kids to play in the area,” Kamble continued. “We wish to keep the dairy plot as a green area. Mumbai is being choked by pollution, and we cannot demolish the last green spaces.”

Varsha Gaikwad, a Mumbai North Central member of parliament, declared she would accompany the demonstrators. “We are discussing Mumbai’s air pollution problem. Kurla lacks green areas and gardens, yet the government intends to donate the property for a new building. We are against the proposals to construct on the property. The people of Mumbai and Kurla are the rightful owners of the land. “They want it to remain a green space,” Gaikwad stated.

Source: The Free Press Journal

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