V.P. Singh prevents demolitions at National Park.
Over 30,000 people residing at different locations at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, at Borivali, yesterday converged at Savitri Phule Nagar where former prime minister, Mr. V. P. Singh and members of the Nivara Hakk Suraksha Samiti prevented the civic demolition squads from bulldozing the slum settlements.

Mr. Singh and his supporters physically stopped the demolition work and, seeing the angry mob of tribals and villagers the bulldozer operators and forest officials abandoned the work and disappeared from the scene. The demolitions had begun around 11 a.m. but was stopped by 11.30 a.m.

Immediately after the work was stopped an impromptu rally was held in the forest where Mr. Singh exhorted the residents of the park not to give up their for fight for their right to a dwelling in the area and a source of income. Assuring the residents of all help, Mr. Singh said he had asked the government to stall all the demolition orders forthwith failing which the residents would not allow any demolitions to be carried out.

Mr. Singh spoke from the venue with chief minister, Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh and deputy chief minister, Mr. Chhaghan Bhujbal on the telephone urging them to carry out a thorough survey of the area before implementing any plans. He also demanded that all those who have been residing within

the boundaries of the
park before 1995
must be rehabilitated
and not only those
who have paid
the prescribed

rehabilitation fees.

Mr. Singh also told the chief minister that there was no other way out than resettling the slum dwellers along the peripheri of the park which comprises abundant wastelands.

For the past 10 years, the 'bastis' at the park stretching from Goregaon to Dahisar in the west and from Bhandup to Thane in the east, have been waging a relentless battle against the "exploitations of the government". The most recent blow was from the Bombay High Court which passed orders for summary eviction on March 2, 2000.

The NHSS pointed out to the court that the demolitions were unjustified since no work had been done to rehabilitate the people at Kalyan who had opposed being shifted to a site about 100 km away. Also, the government would need around Rs. 250 crore for basic infrastructure for rehabilitation at Kalyan, it was pointed out. On the other hand resettlement on the wastelands around the park would be more economical.