BMC Labels Kurla’s Historic Gaothan a Slum; East Indian Community Fights Back

Kurla, Mumbai: Kurla’s historic Christian Gaon, a 500-year-old East Indian gaothan, is at the center of a heated controversy after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued a public notice labeling it as a slum. The Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) has announced a biometric survey of all "slum dwellers" in the area, sparking outrage among residents who see this as an attempt to erase their heritage and facilitate outside interests.

Dated February 28, 2025, the BMC notice, posted in L ward, declares a biometric survey and GIS mapping of structures in Christian Gaon, beginning March 10. The survey includes fingerprint collection, photographic documentation, and data collection on residents. This move has triggered strong opposition from the East Indian community, who argue that Christian Gaon is a recognized gaothan with independent property records and does not meet the legal definition of a slum.

Gleason Barretto, founder trustee of Mobai Gaothan Panchayat (MGP), called for the immediate cancellation of the notice, emphasizing the deep historical roots of Kurla’s Christian Village and its rightful landownership. Advocate Godfrey Pimenta of the Watchdog Foundation has also challenged the move, highlighting that Mumbai’s Development Control and Promotion Regulations (DCPR) 2034 explicitly recognize gaothans and provide them with special redevelopment guidelines.

Community leaders claim this reclassification is influenced by the builder lobby, which seeks to take over prime land under the guise of slum rehabilitation. The dispute mirrors a recent conflict in Bandra’s Chimbai village, where residents successfully resisted a similar classification.

BMC officials clarified that only 45 recorded shanties in Christian Gaon are being surveyed and that the process aligns with SRA guidelines. Meanwhile, SRA CEO Dr. Mahendra Kalyankar stated that gaothans and koliwadas are not subject to SRA surveys and promised discussions with BMC.

As protests grow, residents are reaching out to elected representatives, urging intervention to protect their heritage. Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad has accused the BJP-led Maharashtra government of favoring developers and systematically selling off Mumbai’s indigenous heritage.

With the fight intensifying, Christian Gaon’s residents are determined to protect their historic village from being rebranded as a slum, vowing not to allow a survey that misrepresents their legacy.