Within a few minutes, the police in Mumbai moved the protesting residents of Shev Koliwad’s transit camp, who gathered on the first day of the Monsoon meeting with cedurds outside Vishan Bhavan in Mumbai. Photo: Special arrangement
When the monsoon session of the Maharashtra legislature began on Monday (June 30, 2025), a group of displaced residents from Shev Koliwad’s transit camp in Uranus presented a protest outside Vishan Bhavan in Mumbai and demanded long -term hurry rehabilitation. Demonstrators, including about 40 women and 20 men, were quickly moved to Azad Maidan minutes after arriving to enter the state legislator.
Demonstrators carried labels emphasizing their 40 -year displacement and unfulfilled promises associated with the Jawaharlal project Nezru Port Trust (JNPT). Later on the day, leaders from the whole political spectrum – including the chief of Shiv Hona (UBT) UDDHAV Thackery, NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule and Minister BJP Chandrashekhar Bawankle – in the Assembly will be raised in the assembly.
Protestor Mangesh Anant Koli said, “About 10:55 in the morning we arrived at Vishan Bhavan, in the hope of noticing our labels, we arrived in police cars and moved to Azad Maidan and moved to Azad Maidan.
The inhabitants traveled almost 46 kilometers to draw attention to what state agencies and JNPT call persistent failure and rehabilitation supported by the court. They also carried two formal letters addressed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Minister of Rural Development Jaykumar Gore and outlined over the years by irregularities and negligence.
Accusations against BDO and invite for disciplinary proceedings
One of the letters demanded disciplinary steps against Sameer Watharkar, a block development officer (BDO) Uranus Panchayat Samiti, who accused him of maintaining a “false” Gram Panchayat – Hanuman Koliwada – with a transit camp. The group claims that, despite 25 June 2012, the Bombay High Court command declares that Hanuman Koliwada is not an income village, BDO has tried to legitimize it by changing official reports.
The meeting at the district level held on 13 August 2024, chairman of Raigad collector, reportedly did not find any official records that would support the existence of Panchayat and recommend it to be canceled. However, the inhabitants say BDO continues to support and presents conflicting reports. “We have strong evidence,” Mr. Koli said, quoting the irregularities between BDO 2. May 2024 and earlier news of April 29, 2024.
Continuing civic emergency and unfulfilled rehabilitation
The inhabitants said that, despite more applications for the Supreme Court, legislative resolution and official meetings, the promised rehabilitation remains elusive. Many houses in the transit camp suffer from the attack of termites, lacking basic equipment and located near the active landfill and contribute to dangerous living conditions.
“We have re -raised these problems. Nevertheless, there is no permanent housing, larger land or sanitary infrastructure,” said Nandkumar W. Pawar, President Maharashtra on a small scale of traditional fish workers. Mr. Pawar, who met with Minister Bawankle in Azad Maidan, added that BJP MP Narayan Rane also received the group’s representation and promised to deal with their fears.
The letters also claim that the police registered criminal cases against residents for participating in peaceful protests. “We used our democratic right to collect and express our complaints,” said Mr. Koli.
Lack of reaction in spite of official guidelines
The displaced families expressed frustration from inactivity, despite 2 June 2025, a government circular stimulating rapid disciplinary processes through information technology. They noted that the Office of the Chief Minister sent more e -mail to another main secretary (home) and the main secretary (rural development), but no updates have been communicated yet.
On 18 June, residents filed a petition at the Supreme Court in Mumbai, who were looking for compensation, a rehabilitation process monitored by a court and permanent housing for 256 affected families.
Published – 1 July 2025 08:06
