Rons Banwal for Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai (AF)

Mumbai, Jun 2: The Bombay Catholic Sabha (BCS) held a public rally at Salvation Seva Kendra here recently to support the people of Utan and Gorai in their fight against the SEZ being planned in their area for development of tourism and entertainment.

A press release stated that a large gathering of members and other well-wishers were made aware on the different aspects of this proposed zone and the possible effects it would have on the people, the environment and the cultural heritage.

Dharavi Neth Bachav Samiti (DBBS) president Joseph Gonsalves explained the plight of the people in the ten villages that will be affected by the SEZ. He gave a brief background of the struggle and how the MTDC together with PIPL were going about implementing the proposals of the SEZ.

He went on to say that if this materialized, it would ruin their lives and it would be the first instance of our own elected representatives displacing us and making a “foreign” settlement within the state. The SEZ, he said, would lead to disintegration of the community economically, spiritually and socially and would put into oblivion the haven of rest and recreation for many of the city’s weekenders who used these areas to de-stress, stated the release.

There was an open house discussion thereafter and many useful strategies and suggestions were put forward to take the struggle to its next stage, moving from the meetings and intellectual discussions to more ground-based action and agitations that would exert pressure on the political system. Some suggested a more holistic approach with teams working on the different fronts – environment, legal, heritage, coastal regulations, religious, local, net-working, etc.

Among those present were vice-president of BCS, the president, Dolphy D’Souza, noted writer and environmentalist Darryl D’Monte, Surekha Dalvi from the National Association of People’s Movement and others, the release stated.