Cops stealing power?

Local goon allegedly supplies power and water to areas including police station; residents allege nexus between BMC and cops in flourishing scam

In a strange case of law bending, the upholders themselves seem to be violating many laws for personal benefit.

During an investigation by MiD DAY in Govandi, it was discovered that the Shivaji Nagar police station is illegally using electricity provided by Gotya, a small-time goon from Baiganwadi residing in the area.


Sources say over 2,000 illegal lines have been supplied to the hutments in the area

Further inquiries indicated that areas in and around the police station are also availing of unauthorised power supply from Gotya, who operates as a private supplier.

In fact, electricity is not the only illegal connection that the police station is using. The water supply is also unauthorised.

According to estimates, over 2,000 illegal lines have been supplied to the warrens and hutments in the area.

Dilip Sawant, deputy commissioner of police (Zone VI), on being questioned by a reporter about illegal power supply, said that he would have the matter looked into.
u00a0
"I will check the facts and the culprits will be punished," added Sawant.

Local MLA Abu Azmi said stealing water is common in the neighbourhood, and while some honest people are paying the bills, clandestine operators make a quick buck.

Some suspects involved in the illegal electricity supply are also linked to the mafia collecting hafta from the Baiganwadi dumping yard.

Though, only BMC vehicles and vehicles on contract are allowed to enter the yard and offload garbage, several private vehicles filled with mud and debris from private construction sites across the city were observed at the yard.

Local leader Afzal Khan Asrafi said, "When I attempted to file a complaint, I was threatened by the police. The culprits enjoy themselves and even have food with the cops inside the police station."

Assistant Engineer, M Ward, Arun Kadam, said, "We get many complaints of water theft from the area and take regular action on them.

However, the thefts do not stop. We will inspect and verify how many such illegal water lines are there in the area at present and will take appropriate action against them."

A spokesperson from Reliance said, "Our vigilance department conducts regular raids in the area to stop thefts, but the miscreants get wind of the raid and flee."

Abot the dumping ground monopoly, Azmi further said, "The dumping yard is run by the police and BMC.

I had a meeting with Home Minister R R Patil and Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and gave them some photographic evidence since persons approaching the police with complaints about the same are often arrested."

In the dumps

A survey indicated that the goons have been collecting around Rs 3,000 per dumper, the proceeds of which are allegedly shared with the local police and other agencies.

Over 500 such trucks and dumpers illegally dump waste between 12 and 4 am by paying a fee to the people looking after the 100 acre ground in Shivaji Nagar.

Owing to the large number of dumpsters at the site, debris and mud has spilled over into the sensitive mangroves swamps abutting the yard.

500
Number of trucks dumping waste at Shivaji Nagar

Rs 3,000
Amount of money that goons are collecting for each dumper