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A redevelopment project that began in 2008 and was taken over by MHADA in 2018 has now reached a breaking point in Goregaon’s Siddharth Nagar, where residents of Patra Chawl have been on a 21-day indefinite chain hunger strike, refusing to move into flats they claim are unsafe, incomplete and legally uncertain.

The protest, which includes women, senior citizens and teenagers, comes even as MHADA began allotting rehabilitation flats on March 10 following approval from the Bombay High Court.

Chunks of plaster and concrete that have fallen from the building add to safety concerns raised by residents

What residents say they are being given

Allege serious construction flaws:
>> Leakages and damaged flooring
>> Hollow walls and poor-quality doors
>> Falling plaster from buildings

The newly constructed rehabilitation building in Goregaon where residents allege incomplete work

>> Incomplete work and inadequate parking

Shaila Vyas, 64, resident
“The doors are low quality, the walls are hollow, and plaster is already falling. If this is the condition before we move in, what will happen after?” 

>> ‘Forced possession’ without agreements
>> A key flashpoint is missing paperwork
>> No final Permanent Alternate Accommodation Agreement (PAAA)

>> No executed Development Agreement (DA)

Suresh Vichare, 48, residents
“Without these, how can we move in? Yet MHADA is forcing us to take possession,” Suresh Vichare, 48, who says residents have repeatedly raised concerns with Milind Borikar, chief officer, Mumbai Board, MHADA, “but nothing has been implemented on the ground”

>> Lives disrupted, not just delayed

Gauri Bhandari, 19 residents

For many, the wait has had real consequences. “I was one year old when we vacated. I am 19 now, and it’s still not complete,” Gauri Bhandari, 19, who said she had to quit her education after rent support dropped.

She added, “We saw leakages, broken doors and damaged tiles during inspection. How are we supposed to live there?” Gauri also questioned the safety clearance, “Plaster has fallen from C-wing and F-wing. A chunk fell from the 11th floor. How can this get an ‘okay report’ by VJTI?” 

>> ‘This is our land’

Senior resident Dilip Mehta, 78, who has lived in Patra Chawl since 1948, said,  “The land belongs to the residents. This chawl has existed since 1944. MHADA is trying to dupe us. The construction is poor, and parts are already falling off.” He also alleged the work was carried out by a blacklisted builder and questioned whether MHADA would take responsibility for safety. 

>> Residents: ‘We don’t exist for them’

Viswanath, another resident
“For MHADA, Patra Chawl residents do not exist. We are not asking for anything extra, only what was promised. This feels like daylight robbery.”

MP steps in

Mumbai North West MP Ravindra Waikar has written to MHADA CEO Sanjeev Jaiswal, flagging:
>> Violations of the tripartite agreement (PAAA)
>> Unexecuted DA and PAAA
>> Missing amenities like parking
>> Rent compensation delays since 2014
>> He urged immediate repairs and action against those responsible.

Damp walls and seepage inside newly allotted rehabilitation flats Seepage marks and moisture patches inside the building. Pics/By Special Arrangement

Where it stands

Authorities: Flats ready, agreements largely addressed
Residents: Unsafe homes, incomplete work, missing guarantees
For those on hunger strike, the demand remains unchanged:
>> Fix the defects.
>> Sign the agreements.
>> Then hand over the homes.
>> Until then, the protest continues.

MHADA’s response

Vice President and CEO Sanjeev Jaiswal said:
>> Draft PAAA approved by court-appointed observers
>> Flats ready for almost a year
>> “A few residents” are opposing and blocking others
On safety concerns, he curtly said:
“Find out what is the actual reason.”