Pune: Wakad Residents Rally Against Non-Residents Disrupting Kala Khadak Slum Rehabilitation Efforts
Varad Bhatkhande
Wakad, 3rd April 2024: The Maharashtra government is actively engaged in the rehabilitation of the Kala Khadak Slum. However, despite not being residents of the area, local citizens came together for a joint protest on Tuesday (2nd April), claiming that the Apna Watan Organisation was hindering the project’s progress.
While the government spearheads the rehabilitation efforts, officials of the Apna Watan organization, including Siddiqui Shaikh, Jitendra Juneja, and others, who are not residents of Kala Khadak, are opposing the initiative. Their actions have sparked confusion and misinformation among the general public regarding the government’s intentions.
Furthermore, the organization staged a march to the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) office. In response, local citizens organized a protest, displaying the organization’s poster and submitting a statement signed by community members to the Wakad Police Station.
It has been highlighted that the organization bears responsibility in case of citizen disputes and potential law and order issues arising from their actions. Consequently, demands have been made for appropriate measures to address these concerns.
Amol Deokar, a local resident, expressed, “If the locals of Kala Khadak oppose this project, we remain neutral. However, we strongly oppose non-residents who incite discord and disrupt the project. Every family in our community deserves a rightful home from the government. Outsiders should refrain from provoking our citizens and playing deceptive games.”
Nilesh Gatne, CEO of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority, stated, “M/s Jai Enterprises, as the landowner, has submitted the sole proposal for the rehabilitation of Kala Khadak to us. Although we’ve heard of one or two other developers showing interest, priority is given to the landowner. Hence, the proposal from M/s Jai Enterprises has been promptly accepted.”
Siddiq Shaikh remarked, “Previously, I protested based on local grievances. However, now it seems some individuals are protesting against me and the organization under the influence of the builder. I intend to take legal action against them soon.”
