India, Sept. 22 -- BJP corporator and leader of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) House, Ganesh Khankar, has urged municipal commissioner Ashwini Bhide to immediately suspend the upcoming demolition drive against slum structures taller than 14 feet, saying the move has created an atmosphere of fear among residents.

In a letter to Bhide, Khankar said that around 40% of Mumbai's population lives in slum areas, and the civic administration should not take any action that could cause hardship to economically weaker residents, many of whom have been living in the city for several years.

"The administration has given instructions to issue notices to slums above 14 feet in slum areas of Mumbai city, due to which an atmosphere of fea...