Mumbai: People still come to us for help, say city’s ex-corporators

Former corporators say they get complaints about low water supply from citizens. File pic

It is clear that slums are missing corporators for civic infrastructure works. But it seems they are also being missed by residents of buildings/housing societies, as former corporators claim they have been getting as many complaints from them though their term ended one-and-a-half years ago.

Majority of the complaints they said are of gutters/nullahs choked in the rain, piled up garbage, low water supply, potholes. etc. mid-day spoke to three former corporators about how they manage to speak to ward officials without authority and without the corporators' fund.

Former corporators claim they are getting as many complaints as they used to when they were representing the people. Pic/Shadab Khan

Lacking the authority to issue directives to civic officials and workers, former corporators said they can only request them to resolve issues. They also said they meet BMC officials as common citizens.

Asif Zakaria, Ex-corporator, Cong, Bandra
The majority of people don't know that the civic term has ended. They are so used to corporators being their first person of contact, that we are still getting as many complaints as we used to get earlier. We are trying to get issues resolved and bridge the gap between the city administration and citizens. The complaints are usually about potholes, sewerage, drainage lines, garbage, low water supply, etc. Compared to other wards, my wards consist of more buildings than slums, so I get a higher number of complaints from buildings. The administration is not so prompt that putting an issue on social media or WhatsApp or through the helpline, can guarantee its resolution. That's why there always are complaints pending. So someone has to follow up on them. Today I received complaints on WhatsApp about open dumping of garbage on Kantwadi Road. There are frequent complaints of the unclean beach. So I called up the officer concerned and contractor to sort out the matter. There are potholes on every road.

It is up to you, how the administrative officer treats you. I am always on the street to solve the issue. I forward complaints to the BMC, and when officials come, I go to the spot for a follow up.

Every ward received a fund and we have a list of works, but unfortunately politics plays a role. Now the work is being chosen by BJP MLAs. The fund belongs to BMC, so why is the MLA nod necessary? And why is our work given second priority? Anyone can propose work. Does the BMC work for MLAs, or for the betterment of society?

Prabhakar Shinde, Former corporator, BJP, Mulund
I still take a round for an hour daily in my constituency. Today I received a complaint from Gunjan Shalaka building alleging that a contractor for a SRA building diverted the nullah, resulting in flooding. The residents of Bhavini building complained about garbage piling up on a nearby open plot. A woman from another building wants the BMC to take action against the owner of the flat above hers as she faces water leakage issues. I also have to look into desilting Morya lake before Ganeshotsav as devotees use it for immersion of idols. Apart from such civic issues, people also come for schools/colleges admissions these days. Though we are not authorised now, we can visit ward officials as a common citizen. Sometimes they meet us, sometimes not. Earlier, we could raise these issues in the BMC and had corporators' funds. But now we request ward officers to work with ward funds.

Sanjay Ghadi, Former corporator, Shiv Sena (UBT), Dahisar
People still don't know that our term has ended. They come to us with complaints as usual. These mostly pertain to choked gutters nowadays. But there are many others like tree cutting, garbage, water supply, admission to hospitals, etc.

Earlier we used to call the BMC officials authoritatively, but now we request them. Many times they take note of our complaints; sometimes we have to request them again and again. The administration also faces political pressure. We can't work as we are not entitled to a corporator's fund. The BJP MLA received R20 crore to Rs 25 crore in funds. But I completed most of the work in my area during my tenure. If someone comes for work like repairing gutters or tiling natters, we request them to hold on till the monsoon and the elections are over.

Readers Respond

The absence of corporators raises questions about their relevance when it comes to addressing problems effectively.
Shailesh N Purohit

Political turmoil in the state has diverted attention from civic issues. Early elections for a consensus government focused on development are the need of the hour.
S N Kabra

Many feel that Mumbai would be better off without these uneducated corporators and their influence on BMC.
A Majeed Motiwala

The absence of corporators yields no significant change and therefore doubts arise as to their effectiveness. There is no need for nagar sevaks when BMC can directly handle civic affairs, thus saving taxpayer's money.
Iqbal Gilani Mansuri

Tweet talk

Vivek @viveksah
At the same time NGOs/activists are also in it for an agenda. We need work to be done rather than some people chasing their agenda. If there is no agenda and work gets done like clockwork then we don't need any politicians or activists.

The Common Man @PrabuddhaManush
People join politics for power and position which enables them to get kickbacks in government expenditure. Once elected, the sole objective is to make as much money as possible so that even if they don't get elected again, they are still comfortable.

Nalesh Bhatia @naleshib
I think we should start printing our posters showing area wise condition, and replace them with those the corporators install appraising their area workers/MLAs
etc. This possibly should hit their image badly and also educate residents about the strength of their unworthy corporator!

Riz Qureshi @rizuajq
Common people are first to be blame

Chetan Kamble @ckdadar
Elected representatives make very little difference in the lives of citizens, as many issues are now being escalated through online platforms, public forums, and social organisations nowadays. However, citizens may lack the formal authority and resources to implement broader changes or address complex issues that require legislative or regulatory action.

MaroL Citizens Voice @MarolMoVo
One of the corporator in Marol rather than easing the difficulties of the residents, brings more and more people from his home town to encroach on roads and hawk on footpaths making Marol an illegal hawkers paradise and converting them into his vote bank. A big nuisance.

Farhad Tarapore @farhad_tarapore
Obviously! They are never audited by ED for the flats and bungalows they own.