A dispute over hawker encroachments in Santacruz East has intensified after the Santacruz East Residents Association (SERA) alleged that the local ward officer warned residents through their WhatsApp group and asked them to remove a social media post questioning the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) enforcement drive.
The controversy centres on Nehru Road and 7th Road in TPS-3, Santacruz East, where SERA had posted about the demolition and alleged subsequent rebuilding of hawker stalls. The residents’ association claimed the stalls removed by the civic body were reconstructed soon after the action and suggested that political pressure may be influencing enforcement.
“As anticipated in our post of Aug 22, all the stalls located on Nehru Rd, TPS3 Santacruz East, which were demolished by BMC were rebuilt the next day! The attached pictures speak for themselves,” the association said in its post.
SERA also questioned why materials from the demolished structures, including tin sheets, plywood, wooden planks, shelves and shutters, were allegedly left at the site. The association claimed that leaving the material behind made it easier for the stalls to be reconstructed without significant additional expense.
“BMC needs to explain this and why no criminal action has been taken on such repeat offenders,” the post said.
Hemal Mehta, a SERA member, alleged that Assistant Municipal Commissioner of H East ward Mrudula Ande subsequently warned residents in their WhatsApp group and asked them to delete the post.
“In the post, defamatory words are used, we are thinking to take this matter seriously to the seniors,” Mehta said.
He added that although the ward conducts regular drives against hawkers, vendors allegedly return shortly after civic teams leave. According to him, residents had also met ward officials around 15 days earlier and were assured that the matter would be addressed.
Advocate Trivankumar Karnanai, founder of the Mumbai North Central District Forum, questioned the allegation of defamation.
“What is defamation in this post? Does the officer know the meaning of defamation? Hawkers return after the BMC action. This is the truth,” said Karnanai.
However, Ande denied the allegation that residents were asked to delete the post.
“Our team is doing excellent work to make footpaths free for pedestrians. While the team is doing good work, it is not good to demoralise them,” she said.
The dispute highlights continuing tensions between residents demanding sustained action against hawker encroachments and civic officials dealing with recurring violations in busy residential and commercial areas.
Source: Mumbai Mirror
