As the floods waters recede, the Maharashtra government has embarked on a new method for provision of relief. It attacks with lathis and sticks people who are rebuilding their hutments and snatches relief provisions that have been collected.

The heavy rains affected everyone in Mumbai suburbs. People lost family and friends. Commuters were stuck for hours in the flood. Property was damaged. Numerous people living in less permanent shelters, in slums and hutments have lost their homes. Landslides have buried houses and people and a large number of people have been missing.

The administration has been callous, even noticeably absent. While on one hand it has not fulfilled its responsibilities, it has also deemed it appropriate to make callous statements. MMRDA chief Mr. Chandrasekhar and Minister of the State Government, Mr. Ajit Pawar declared slums as the main reason for the floods. Ironically, it has been thoughtless development that has now hindered appropriate drainage of the flood waters.

While the administration has been complacent – even negligent – people have begun to put their houses back together. Especially in various slums, communities are coming together to help each other rebuild their houses. When resources are scarce, often shelters are being put together using plastic sheets and bamboo.

And yet, on 31st of July, in Mandala slums in Mankhurd, police lathi-charged a group of women who were putting up community kitchen and confiscated rice and other relief materials. Ironic, that the administration that has put little effort to help the people of Mumbai rebuild after the massive calamity, is quick to attack the poorest and disrupt their process or rebuilding.

Perhaps the administration truly wanted to uphold law. Why, then, has it not made such a drive against powerful builders who have as much prime land on which they have built illegally? Why does it not demolish development that prevents drainage of water and in fact make the suburbs more prone to floods?

Clearly, these floods have shown the Maharashtra government to be driven by its self interest – possibly tied to big money in Mumbai. The important question is what will the people do about it?

- Sanat Mohanty

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