Adivasi communities residing in Aarey's Film City, Mumbai, are facing uncertainty following the BMC's dismissal of their land claims under the Forest Rights Act. The Adivasi Habale Pada Mandal has expressed discontent through a formal letter to the civic authority, challenging the decision and requesting compensation. The municipal corporation, however, has rebuffed these claims, asserting that a forest rights committee must be established before reaching a resolution. Meanwhile, surveys for the planned Goregaon Mulund Link Road (GMLR) are underway to evaluate its potential impact on Adivasi-held lands.
Following a clash with police during a protest last week, tension continues to brew in Mumbai's Adivasi Habale Pada community as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to conduct a survey for the proposed Goregaon Mulund Link Road (GMLR). The Adivasi Habale Pada Mandal addressed the BMC expressing objection to the rejection of their claims under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. This rejection would potentially strip them of their land rights without compensation.
The survey intends to assess the impact of GMLR on the community's land. It faced resistance from the Adivasi residents who demanded transparency, prior notice, and fair compensation. Dinesh Habale, a community leader, emphasized their willingness to cooperate but stressed the importance of protecting their way of life.
Dinesh highlighted their efforts, since 2019, to claim the land and cultivation rights under the FRA.
During the attempted survey, tensions escalated as police allegedly resorted to force, resulting in injuries among protesters. However, the police claimed they used only necessary force and released the detained protesters shortly after.
Moreover, the injured protesters alleged denial of medical treatment at a hospital due to the police case, prompting them to seek help elsewhere. A complaint regarding this incident was lodged with relevant authorities.
Despite their submissions, the BMC rejected the Adivasi claims, citing that their houses are not located in forest areas. However, as per the letter, the rejection occurred without consulting the forest rights committee of their civic ward. Sanjay Jadhav, assistant commissioner for P South ward, countered this, stating that the claims hadn't been rejected due to the absence of a forest rights committee. He clarified that a committee formation process was underway and urged the Adivasi community to participate.
As the dispute continues, the fate of the GMLR project remains uncertain, highlighting the broader issues of land rights and development affecting marginalized communities in urban areas.
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