se points which came under his purview and that the remaining points would have to be responded to by the Commissioner himself.He made the following key promises among others
Transit stay arrangement: The Technical Director accepted that the people had cleared the land based on the assurance given by the Commissioner on 21st May. He assured in clear words that the transit stay arrangement for the families, including water and toilet facilities, would be provided in the vicinity of Deshyanagar by Monday, 8th June 2009.
Time-line for project completion: The Technical Director assured that the project would be completed in 12 months, by the end of May 2010, and handed over to the people.Review meetings with the people: He directed the EE and AEE to hold official weekly meetings on Saturday evenings with the residents and provide all details. He assured the residents that he would come for a
monthly review meeting where all the details of the progress of the project, budget and expenditure would be shared with the people.The no-action from the KSCB even after 25 days
In brief: We met and submitted a letter on 21st May 2009 to the Commissioner with a major request to provide transit stay arrangement. On his clear assurance of providing transit stay arrangement immediately 42 families cleared a portion of the site on the next day, 22nd May 2009 itself. We submitted a request letter again on 1st June 2009 urging him to visit and provide transit stay arrangement. Technical Director was deputed on 3rd June 2009, who came and promised transit stay arrangement by 8th June 2009. Till 15th June 2009, after 25 days of displacement and people left to fend their life on their own - no action was taken by the KSCB.
No official of KSCB honoured their commitment. No one is accountable to the plight of the residents of Deshyanagar. People are forced to live on the pavements. Families are exposed to all kinds of threats – by neighbors, by vehicles, by nature. Families may be washed away, children may drown and disappear, families may contact various diseases, children and families may fall into the fifteen feet ditch that is carved out and left unprotected and loose life. The residents of Deshyanagar are treated as though not human beings. This is a human rights violation. Right to life and liberty under the constitution is violated.
Final request
The people on 15th June have asked transit stay arrangement for all the families displaced and questions be answered in writing by 18th June 2009.
Follow up social action planned
People have decided to do the following social actions from 19th June 2009.
- Stop the construction work on the site.
- Dharna in front of the
- Involve the media
- Meet the CM, Urban development minister, City in-charge minister etc., and apprise them
- Petition the Human Rights Commission
- Use the RTI under 48 Hour clause to find answers from the KSCB
