Gorai-Manori-Utan belt to observe bandh on Sunday

MUMBAI: Ferry services at Marve in Malad and Gorai in Borivli will be suspended and auto rickshaws will be off the roads as villagers observe a bandh on Sunday to protest MMRDA’s proposed development plan for the Gorai-Manori-Utan belt. Villagers have been demanding scraping of the Draft Development Plan (DDP) which was approved by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in May.It includes a five km coastal road between Manori and Gorai in addition to developing the belt for tourism.
Gorai sarpanch Rossi Dsouza said, “we want development in our villages but first give us basic facilities like hospitals and schools.” He said that the Gorai-Manori belt has been attracting tourists and villagers too are benefitting. “Since three years we have been struggling to get license for boating in Gorai. Our home-stay proposals have also not got the government nod,” said Rossi.
On Sunday, boats ferrying both locals and picnickers from Marve and Gorai beaches will be discontinued at 8.30 am, said Lourdes D’souza, secretary of the Dharavi Beth Bachao Samiti. The boats are the lifeline that connects the city to the villages. By discontinuing services we want to send out a strong message that we do not want any development by the MMRDA, said Lourdes.
The Gorai-Manori belt attracts picnickers during the weekends. Resorts have been asked to not entertain picnickers on Sunday as they take out a protest march across the villages. Auto rickshaws too will remain off the roads atleast in the first half. The boats are expected to resume services in the second half. By road one can drive down from Bhayander to reach the villages. Heavy police bandobast will be deployed in the villages. Protestors will gather at the Kaka Baptista chowk in Utan where a public meeting will be held. “We will have a peaceful demonstration,”said Lourdes.
Gorai-Manori villagers want to return to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) while Utan-Pali-Chowk-Dongri-Morva-Tarodi villagers want to be back with the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC). Last month, villagers had prevented surveyors from inspecting government land in Gorai. Heavy police force was deployed as locals came onto the streets.