BMC Moves to Evacuate Families in Landslide-Prone Ashok Nagar in Ghatkopar West
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has initiated efforts to evacuate families residing in the landslide-prone Ashok Nagar area of Ghatkopar West, following a deadly landslide earlier this week on August 12 that claimed eight lives and injured seven others.
According to civic officials, the BMC has managed to persuade between 25 and 50 families to vacate the hazardous settlement. However, several other households have refused to leave the area, opting to stay rather than relocate to alternative accommodation.
Anil Jadhav, Assistant Municipal Commissioner of BMC's L ward, stated that civic authorities have repeatedly urged residents to move out due to the imminent risk. Jadhav noted that before the onset of the monsoon, the civic body had installed warning boards across the locality notifying residents of the landslide risks and advising them not to live there.
Despite the warnings and the recent fatal incident, many residents have continued to stay in their homes.
Because the land occupied by the settlement belongs to the Airports Authority of India and falls under the jurisdiction of the district collector, the BMC has formally written to both authorities regarding the situation. Further steps and decisions on subsequent actions will be taken based on directives from senior officials.
