India, Sept. 21 -- The BMC's demolition drive against slum structures higher than 14 feet, scheduled to begin from October 1, has drawn its first pushback. A legal notice was sent on Saturday to the BMC commissioner, the heads of the SRA and MMRDA, as well as the principal secretary, Housing Department, by advocate Faiyaz Alam Shaikh on behalf of the Govandi New Sangam Welfare Society. Speaking up for the affected slum dwellers, Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh said that the BMC's move to crack down on such slum structures has put the future of around 34,000 residents at stake.

Pointing out that the 14 feet limit dates back to a 138-year-old law (the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act 1888), when the housing situation was completely differe...