Surat: The Supreme Court has issued a stay on the demolition of 5 thousand slums in Surat. The demolition of these slums mushroomed along the railway line was required to execute a railway project connecting Surat to Jalgaon.

The Supreme Court has ordered to maintain the status quo (existing condition as it is). The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing on 25th August.

The demolition of these slums was planned for Rs. 2246 crore Surat-Jalgaon railway project. Gujarat high court had withdrawn the interim stay on demolition of the slums on 19th August after which the demolition was scheduled on Tuesday- 24th August. The bench of the Supreme Court has issued a status quo and ordered both parties to maintain the existing condition at present.

The appellants are claiming that no plan for rehabilitation was made despite their area comes under the Municipal Corporation and they were instructed to vacate the slums within 24 hours without giving enough time.

There’s a huge encroachment of illegal slums along the railway tracks in Surat. Most slum dwellers are migrants from other States. After favorable order from the High Court, Railways had started demolition of slums since the morning from Kamela Darwaja locality starting with Milan Nagar, Apna Nagar, Panchshil nagar etc areas. 300 slum units were demolished by evening. Ahead of this water and gutter connections of 9,000 slum units were cut by Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC). Railways had taken Police force and Gujarat Railway Police (GRP) jawans with them while executing demolition. 50 slum units were demolished in Apnanagar, 70 in Milannagar, 150 in Mafatnagar, 15 in Panchshil nagar and 15 in Sangam nagar. However later Advocate Zamir Sheikh produced Supreme Court’s Stay at around 2.00 pm before the Railway officials following which a four-hour long demolition was stopped to proceed further. Meanwhile the High Court has lifted stay against third track between Surat and Jalgaon. DeshGujarat