The picture, however, isn't rosy. Garodia Nagar, a posh residential area here is beginning to face problems. While this private layout -- the area does not come under the BMC because the developer did not make provision for for streetlights, drains and roads -- was developed in 1972, eight of its plots (earmarked as recreational grounds) have not been developed. While four of these plots are still lying vacant, one of them has been developedby the residents into a park. The rest of them are doomed, it seems -- one of them is being used by a decorator for keeping his goods, another has Lion's Community Garden and the third has been encroached by a garage. However, the garage owner claims he bought the land from the developer.Also, Garodia Nagar does not have a society or an organisation as such.

However, both Garodia Nagar Residents Association (GNRA) and Garodia Nagar Federation (GNF) claim to be true representatives of the people. ``We live in a sophisticated slum,'' grumbles Girish Shedth, Secretary of GNRA. But then there's also the problem of real slums in Ghatkopar (E).

The suburb has a few slum pockets and, of late, they have been expanding far too rapidly. The slums of Ramabai Colony, for instance, have virtually taken up every inch of the available government land, leaving the authorities fuming and helpless. But it wasn't an easy job filling the low-lying marshy land with debris. This for a poor man was a difficult task. But for afew politically well-connected people it was no big deal, allege residents.

``Most of these encroachments are abetted by political personalities and thus have little or no danger of being uprooted,'' says an official on the condition of anonymity. ``Also, Ramabai Colony is a very sensitive area and the authorities wouldn't want to risk their lives for a few huts here and there in the middle of nowhere,'' he adds.

And with Ghatkopar (E) being Collector's Land, the Ward Office can very well shrug the responsibility of demolishing illegal structures. ``Still, we bring down a few structures as and when residents complain,'' claims Shekhar Todsam, Ward Officer, N-Ward. But the action does not seem to show as far as the slums in Jalaprabhat, Transit Camp and Bhaiyya Sahab Ambedkar Nagar in Ramabai Colony are concerned.

On the other hand, the residents of Ramabai Colony are also furious about the additions to an already ill-served area. ``With new structures coming up, we have to share our limited amenitieswith them,'' rues a shopkeeper at Ramabai Colony. Interestingly, the Collector's employees hardly seem to be doing anything to stop encroachments on their land. ``The Collector's staff get a fair share from each hutment,'' alleges Namdeo Ubale, Councillor of the area. Even the Ward Officer accuses the Collector's staff of accompanying his men on demolition sprees for their own interest.

Suggesting that the Collector should take charge of demolition, especially when he is equipped with a squad for the purpose, Todsam says: ``He should now wake up to the situation.'' On the other hand, Deputy Controller, M A Honap, claims that he has the authority to demolish unoccupied structures only. Illegal and occupied structures can be demolished, he explains, only if Tehsildar orders. The Tehsildar, however, has the authority to issue an order for demolition under section 50(3) of Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966. ``Several times we have asked him to issue orders, but to no avail,'' Honap argues. A Tehsildarofficial, on being confronted, claims the office has been trying its best to issue orders.

Also a police chowky at the only entry point to Ramabai Colony (used by trucks bringing debris to fill the unoccupied low-lying land) does not seem to stop encroachments. The Ward Officer argued that that it is the duty of the police to stop these trucks from entering the area. Honap also claimed that the Collector's office had sent several letters to the Pant Nagar Police Station asking them to stop any truck full of debris entering the area. ``The police took action for some time, but later stopped. As a result, slums expanded overnight,'' informs R T Sarkate. Surveyor in Deputy Controller's office. And with authorities busy blaming each other, slums have taken advantage of passing-the-buck-game.