It is shocking that the shanty dwellers are allowed to add floors like this, unchecked by the authorities. But the onus also falls on the shanty dwellers themselves, who prefer to flirt with danger and live precariously, rather than take any kind of precautions. One cannot use the ‘uneducated’ tag as an excuse.

You do not need college degrees to realise just how dangerous this kind of illegal development this is. Those who are adding on to these shanties are also doing so without checking on foundations, so there is always the danger of the shanty caving in.

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Human greed being insatiable, the slum dwellers give these additional floors out on rent, and, in a space starved city where going vertical seems to be the only option, these are snapped up quickly and the shanty owners make a tidy sum.

Authorities need to nip this practice in the bud. There has to be great political will, given that these shanties are a major vote bank. There must be a zero tolerance approach to this.

Caving in and relaxing restrictions is counterproductive and shows weakness in dealing with the problem. One day, we might see these shanties rise higher than skyscrapers. A grim prospect, but it is not just a tall tale.