Bhopal- Families residing near the Union Carbide factory on railway land for the past 30 years were affected when the railway and district administration jointly demolished approximately 250 homes on December 22, 2022. Despite this, the families have not been relocated.

These families are struggling with severe issues during the rainy season. In a conversation with The Mooknayak, Nafis, a resident of Annunagar settlement, shared, "We have been living under these tarpaulins for 19 months. Whenever it rains heavily, water starts seeping into our makeshift shelters. On December 22, 2022, the railway administration demolished our permanent homes. The Tehsildar and SDM on-site gave us tokens for alternative accommodation, but we still haven't been provided with a place. The Tehsildar had said we'd be informed about a place in a few days, but now there’s no trace of our number. We have neither electricity nor a toilet here."

Nafis further stated, "I live with my wife, three children, and mother. It's been nearly two years living under these tarpaulins. With the heavy rains in Bhopal over the last three days, our tents cannot withstand the downpour. Water continuously drips inside. We’ve placed several containers to catch the dripping water. We stay awake all night trying to get the children to sleep somehow. Despite multiple visits to the Tehsil with tokens, no one is giving us any answers. We have no trust in the administration or the government anymore."

Similarly, the plight of 153 families in Annunagar, whose homes were demolished 19 months ago, is dire. They are struggling to survive, living under tarpaulins on the rubble of their destroyed homes. These families, primarily Muslim and Dalit, live in deplorable conditions without electricity, toilets, or other essential facilities. Despite assurances from the administration, no relief has been provided.

The families lived on railway land near the Union Carbide factory for the past 30 years. On December 22, 2022, around 250 homes were demolished by the railway and district administration, but the families have not been relocated. Consequently, residents of Annunagar and Shri Ram Nagar are forced to live under tarpaulins, enduring extreme temperatures and adverse weather conditions.

Nafis mentioned that during the demolition, the administration had promised alternative housing. Tokens were distributed by the SDM and Tehsildar, who assured that arrangements would be made. However, after 19 months, no alternative housing has been provided. Nafis stated, "I earn a living through labor. My mother is ill, and we have no place to stay. There is no electricity, no toilet facilities. We cannot afford to rent a house. If we had money, we wouldn’t be in this situation."

Another resident, Saroj, shared that the heavy rains have left her entire family distressed. Living with her son, she said, "Due to the rain, our clothes and bedding are soaked. Water is dripping from the roof of the hut. The tarpaulin is old and leaks everywhere. We live in darkness because there is no electricity."

Voter Lists Removed

Najeeb Khan, a resident of Annunagar, reported that all their names have been removed from the voter list. "We have lived here for the past 30 years, but now our names have been removed from the voter list. We couldn't vote in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections or the previous assembly elections. First, the administration displaced us, and now they have also taken away our voting rights. I have been given token number 178, and my family consists of six members. It’s been two years, and no one has listened to us. Even a small piece of land to build a home would be a blessing."

Rachna Dhingra, an activist with the Bhopal Group for Information and Action, working on issues affecting gas victims, explained that Annunagar and Shri Ram Nagar are inhabited by gas and water-affected residents facing severe hardships.

She stated, "Nineteen months after the demolition, these families have still not been relocated. They were given tokens, but no land has been allocated. We met with the Bhopal Collector, who promised to allocate housing under the Prime Minister’s Housing Scheme for some and provide other arrangements for others, but nothing has materialized."

Assurances But No Action

Gas victim organizations had staged a protest at the Collectorate earlier this year in March, demanding the relocation of 153 families. The Collector assured that the issues would be addressed.

A list of the 153 affected families was also submitted. Bhopal Collector Kaushalendra Vikram Singh promised to relocate the victims under the Prime Minister’s Housing Scheme and other arrangements, but not a single family has been provided with a new home so far.

In response to these concerns, The Mooknayak contacted Bhopal Collector Kaushalendra Vikram Singh, who reiterated, "This time, we will shift these families by providing them homes under the Prime Minister’s Housing Scheme."