Why Surat Slum Demolished??

The SMC under the pretext of providing alternate housing to the Slum Dwellers of Surat at the site located 15 kms away from the present location, has demolished the slums. In the context it has given repeated floods also the reason for the shift. It is well remembered that Surat 2006 flood did not spared more than 50 percent of its area from water level 4-12 feet on the steets. More housing societies, apartments, and office establishments was severely affected. The reaction by the irrigation department was to plan an new embankment, which they did after year. Now, the new plan is not known to the people, new embankment was constructed whereever they could find the land vacant adjacent to the river bank. Now it looks the embankment may create further danger to the city.

The SMC has not listned to the peoples demand while taking the decision to uproot them from present site. Moreover, they are forcibly removed. A mockery of the present housing and habitat policy, Jnnurm - IHSDP/ BUSP guidelines. What makes city government so hostile!!

Same old attitude, peoples consultation, participation and sharing of plans is minimal. Whatever has been done to complete the assign tasks, get the funds and make the city 'slum free'. Their rights has been violated has already been explained in earlier post.

The flood provides the best opportunity to demolish the slums, the obstruction of the releasing of flood water is blamed on the slums but not on the town planning and the encroachment of the river basin by the builders lobby abetted by administration with utter disregard to the environment and ecology.
The narrowing of the Tapi river is revealing one. 40 years back it could carry 10 lakhs cusec of water. It has been reduced to 3.5 lakhs cusec. After the flood it can not accept more than 3 lakhs which can be further reduced if there is high tide to 2.5 lakhs. I. E 14-8-06
The general width of Tapi is 600 meter which is 400 meters at Adajan. 200 meters has been reduced because of encroachment of Tapi by the builders. Again when Ukai dam was constructed, there was no Hazira Complex. The Hazira Industrial complex raised 2 to 3 meter reducing the releasing of water of Tapi to the sea.

Green Eminent, has recently submitted its evaluation report on the concern sites to the community affected by the present housing policy of the SMC. Lets see how things shape in coming times..