Drive to clear Versova beach of squatters today

MUMBAI: After a group of activists recently showed their MLA, collector and civic officials the deplorable state of the Versova beach, a drive will be undertaken on Thursday to pull down all illegal structures from the shore.
MLA from the area Ameet Satam said a massive demolition drive would begin at 10.30am on Thursday. Unauthorized shanties that have mushroomed in the area over the years will be pulled down, not sparing the patches where locals grow fenugreek and the bore wells dug on the beach.
During the recent visit with activists, the collector and other officials found that even the mangrove stretch adjoining the shore had been encroached upon with a stable and cattle shed being built there. “The biggest challenge will be to ensure that once evicted, the squatters do not come back and again settle down on the beach. We are also looking at options like building public toilets near the shore so that those living in illegal shanties nearby do no defecate on the beach, dirtying the area,” Satam said. “The contractor, in charge of cleaning the beach, should also make sure that the Versova beach can be developed into something similar to the other popular beaches in the city.”