Triggering a people’s revolution!

It was a citizens’ triumph, when the Collector’s Office demolished the Trig Guard Force office premises on N S Road No 10 on July 15.


After their success in the Juhu Beach Redevelopment Plan and bringing to office a people’s representative in Councillor Adolf D’souza (War no 63, Bhaktivedanta Marg-Cooper Hospital) this is perhaps, one of the biggest victories for Juhu residents, who have been following up this issue for over a year now.

On January 20, Westside Plus was the first to report (‘Trig’ger pulled; structure to be demolished) on the Konkan Divisional Commissioner’s dismissal of the appeal to stay demolition of their illegal Trig Guard Force office, and
Tuesday’s demolition shows that citizens can really change their situation with perseverance.

We, at Westside Plus, feel cheered to trace the residents’ battle to have their area made flood-free, the first step of which was demolishing the Trig office. Equal efforts from residents and representatives, including MP Priya Dutt (Northwest constituency), former Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Nirupam and Councillor D’souza have borne fruit.     

Tracing the movement to its triumph

u 2006: As per the Chitale Committee recommendation, the Irla Nullah system is to be widened to 30 metres, where the nullah width would be 15 metres and the access roads on either side would be 7.5 metres wide.

u December 24, 2007: To undertake the BRIMSTOWAD project, 207 structures along the Irla Nullah had been demolished. However, the Trig Guard office was not touched following its pending appeal with the Konkan Divisional Commissioner.

u January 10, 2008: The Konkan Divisional Commissioner, Shreekant Singh  dismissed this appeal and an order had been passed to demolish this structure.

u January 19, 2008: Residents of Juhu held a protest march, demanding the eviction of Trig Guard Force Ltd., as per the notice issued of the Deputy Collector. Demolition of the said structure was then stayed on the orders of
Revenue Minister Narayan Rane, which delayed the Irla Nullah widening project. Residents had been pursuing this matter since then, approaching Mayor Dr Shubha Raul, Municipal Commissioner Jairaj Phatak, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

u May 31, 2008: Residents held an eight-hour hunger strike to launch their protest against political interference in development projects across the city.

u June 13, 2008: Residents met Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, where he made it clear that the Housing Department will look into the matter, and that it is not in the domain of the Revenue Department under Narayan Rane.

u June 27, 2008: Announcement that Narayan Rane has lifted the stay.

u July 9, 2008: Collector’s Office receives letter from Housing Department to carry out demolition of the said structure.

u July 15, 2008: Demolition of the office of Trig Guard Force Ltd.

Official speak

Milind Shambarkar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Special)

“We had carried out demolition of the slums along the Irla Nullah stretch last December. However, the Trig Guard Force Ltd. had a pending appeal with the Konkan Divisional Commissioner then, and could not be demolished. However, the appeal was dismissed, and order to demolish the structure was given to the Collector’s Office. Today, demolition of the Trig Guard Force office has been carried out and BMC can now carry out further work on Irla Nullah.

Anant Dahiphale, Deputy Collector (Encroachment)

“As per the survey carried out, the Trig structure was illegal and not eligible for rehabilitation. The structure would have been demolished with the other structures along this stretch of Irla Nullah, however, they managed to get a stay on the demolition. We received a letter from the Housing Department on July 9, following which notice was issued to the said structure on July 14, 2008 to vacate the premises in 24 hours. Demolition was carried out on July 15, 2008.”

Adolf D’souza, Councillor 

“Many thought it was an impossible task, yet activist residents took it up as a challenge, and this has shown the results. In fact, even celebrities of Juhu joined hands with other residents for this demolition to take place. If people come together and fight for a genuine cause, all vested interests will have to relent.”

Residents react

Sherley Singh, Honorary Secretary, Juhu Scheme Residents Association

“It is encouraging and motivating, that we were able to fight for our rights, even when there was political interference. It gives us enough confidence to believe in the system. Now, the Nullah will be widened and flooding issues in Juhu will be resolved. We had been fighting for the demolition, as the authorities have not taken action against the Trig structure, which is right at the mouth of the Nullah, while encroachments at Sainath Nagar and Suraj Nagar, were demolished to widen the Irla Nullah. Now, we would be focussing on ensuring that the Irla Nullah system project gets completed on time.”

Anil Desai, Secretary, Gulmohar Area Societies Federation

“That we have overcome powerful hurdles to get the structure demolished proves that through perseverance we can achieve a lot. We could have been lost hope, when one of our members was beaten up. Yet, the incident got us together and encouraged us to fight for the cause.”

Ruben Mascarenhas, Activist, who Trig officials allegedly beat up last year

“This is a milestone for Juhu residents. We had tried everything, from approaching Mayor Dr Shubha Raul, Municipal Commissioner Jairaj Phatak, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. Despite money power, muscle power, and political power being involved residents emerged victorious. If we have a just cause, law-breakers can be booked. Demolition of the Trig office was in the interest of larger section of the society, and not for rich or poor.

nirali.dixit@timesgroup.com