Residents of Darukhana along Mumbai’s eastern waterfront staged a protest on Tuesday, halting a planned demolition of nearly 120 homes. The action comes after the Mumbai Port Authority issued eviction notices, asking families to vacate what it termed “unauthorised and illegal encroachment” within seven days.
The affected households, located on New Tank Bunder Road, gathered in large numbers as officials, accompanied by Sewri police, arrived to carry out the demolition. For several hours, families stood their ground, blocking access to the site and forcing authorities to withdraw by around 1 pm.
Residents say many of them have lived in the area since 1995 and now face sudden displacement. The eviction notices, served on April 17, target homes closest to the sea, spread across two clusters of more than 90 and 20 structures.
Following the standoff, residents managed to secure an additional 10 days before any further action is taken. During this period, they plan to move the city civil court, seeking a stay order against the demolition.
The civic action has sparked concerns over rehabilitation and due process, as affected families claim they were given limited time to respond. The MbPA, on its part, had warned that failure to vacate would lead to demolition, with costs potentially recovered through the sale of valuables found on the premises.
The situation underscores the ongoing tensions between land-owning authorities and long-settled communities across Mumbai’s waterfront and port-adjacent areas. As legal proceedings are expected to follow, the fate of the Darukhana residents now hinges on the court’s intervention and any possible negotiations that may emerge in the coming days.
Source: The Indian Express
