Mumbai's original inhabitants call Maharashtra govt's property tax waiver move 'unfair'

Pali Village Gaothan in Bandra West

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray recently announced property tax waiver for homes up to 500 sq feet in Mumbai, saying that the Shiv Sena lives up to its promises. It has also been labelled as a New Year gift to lakhs of Mumbaikars. Given that real estate is an absolute hot button here, the announcement has been met with an avalanche of analyses and opinions.

The originals

The Agris, Kohlis and East Indians have reacted at once asking: What about us? Alphi D'Souza, founder-trustee of Mobai Gaothan Panchayat (MGP) - apex body representing Gaothans, said, "The property tax waiver should be extended to the inhabitants of gaothans across. As the original inhabitants of the city, our homes are spacious, but check our records of homes registered before 1962 in the Gaothans, these are those of the original inhabitants. The BMC should not levy property tax on those homes. That is the least they can do for us, the people of erstwhile Bombay."

D'Souza said, "Our lands have been acquired for the city, whether in BKC, near the airport, or in Kalina - all these were East Indian lands. As indigenous persons, we have the first right to this property tax waiver. Our contribution to this city has been huge. Instead, we see outsiders with small homes given a waiver."

The original inhabitants are anguished with the unfairness of it all. Slum dwellers may get a small home in the city, as rehabilitation and now, they also have the benefit of a property tax waiver. "The sons of the soil have been overlooked," said MGP members as D'Souza stressed, "In several other countries, you do see indigenous persons having a lot of first rights. Not so here, apparently."

Activist Neil Pereira of the Agris, Kohlis and East Indians (AKEI), which represents the three bhoomiputras and aims at political representation of this group at different levels of government, said, "We feel let down by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after none of their promises fructified, even as we voted for them. We hope the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) recognises our contribution and sacrifices, such as giving our land for development in the city, and there is some reciprocation," said Pereira.

Votebank woes

Walter Murzello, MGP trustee, said, "I felt like weeping when I heard this news. It is so painful, we have been asking for this for so many years." The Orlem resident said, "I remember a time in Kandivli, when we lived next to our fields. We washed our clothes in the river, drank water from the wells. That is how far back we go, that is what we once had in Mumbai, which was then Mobai," said Murzello. Like the others, Murzello thinks this benefit is going to others and "not those who gave up their lands, their fields for the city".

Bryce Rodricks, spokesperson for the East Indians within the AKEI, stated, "The original landowners have been asking for this waiver, but it is outsiders and even encroachers who will get this benefit. If that should not hurt, then, tell me, what should?" The sons of the soil signed off grimly, "We realise that we have been bypassed because we are not a vote bank." The civic elections are slated for February.