Stung BMC releases funds to fix Dharavi’s drains

Naushad Shah cleaning the gutter. Pic/Rian Khorana

Naushad Shah from Sai Garden Chawl has suspended his voluntary work of physically entering sewage water to clean the gutter and create a new drainage system for a part of his slum. The BMC informed residents that funds have been allocated to fix the issue. This update came four days after the mid-day report, where 21 families crowdfunded Rs 1,500 each to help Naushad purchase the necessary materials for the drainage system.

Mid-day witnessed filthy water entering the homes of these families, causing them to live in survival mode at night. Mrs Khartoum, the mother of Shifa Khartoum, a nine-year-old girl, revealed how they wake up to water entering their homes in the middle of the night, and they hurriedly collect buckets to empty the house and sleep again, only to face the same situation after a few hours. Even young children as young as six years old help in this process. "This problem persisted for three months even before the monsoon, but after the monsoon started, it became unbearable. Because of this, we took this drastic step, as our voices went unheard until this time," Naushad said.

The filthy drainage in Sai Garden chawl. Pic/Ashish Raje

Now, Naushad Shah feels relieved by the BMC's decision, as he will no longer have to enter the sewer, reducing the risk of falling sick. While 10 metres have been fixed, there are still seven metres to go. The process involves cleaning the gutter, adding cement, and placing tiles to ensure water flows into the gutter, not their homes. The accumulated water, with trash and insects on the surface, has caused perpetual illnesses among the residents.

Madhuri Gautam's children have been missing school as they take care of their ailing mother. She shared her struggles with health issues and the financial constraints of installing an RO filter to improve the water quality. Though she has switched to Ayurvedic medicine, her health has not fully recovered. "I didn't sleep for three nights because of a bad stomach, my children haven't gone to school for four days as they have to take care of me. I get so weak that I can't even walk properly," she said.

Children in the area have to navigate the dangers of the waterlogged path, often tripping over unexpected objects hidden under the water. For Ikra Sidiqui, tailoring at home is her lifeline. "Water enters my home unexpectedly and spoils raw material and finished goods. It's difficult to pursue my restricted aspirations when we're constantly living under this threat." she said. Nageshwar Yadav, a milkman, faces income loss as water has seeped into his milk due to the changed conditions in the lane where he used to bring his cycle. "Now my source of income has stopped," he said.

Rs 1,500
Amount each family contributed to fix drainage