BMC builder nexus? Water drain in the middle of a storm

BMC to construct storm water drain that HC ordered pvt builders to make; residents furious

BMC to construct storm water drain that HC ordered pvt builders to make; residents furious

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is in the eye of a storm over a one kilometre stretch of storm water drain in Charkop, Kandivli West. According to a Bombay High Court order of 2009, the drain was supposed to have been constructed by a group of private developers but is now being made by the BMC, using a cool Rs 50 lakh of the taxpayers' money.


Reji Abraham at the site of the storm water drain that is being
constructed by the BMC

Predictably, the area's residents are furious about what the BMC is doing. Reji Abraham, chief secretary of United Association for Social, Educational and Public Welfare, a local body of citizens, said they filed an RTI enquiring into the matter since they suspected that civic authorities were giving preferential treatment to the builder lobby.

"The RTI response says that the BMC is utilising government funds allocated for improvement of roads in the western suburbs. Not only is the builder lobby allotted plots in mangrove areas at throw away prices, now they are being showered with favours at the cost of the taxpayers' money," said Abraham.

Sunday MiD DAY has a copy of the RTI document. B N Devadiga, secretary of the nearby Highland Complex in Charkop, located three km away from the drain, said there were bigger issues like water accumulation and dilapidated roads that the BMC had done nothing about.

"Our society, which has over 5,000 residents, has been surviving without proper drainage facilities for the last 20 years. Our storm water drains are overflowing even when it does not rain," he said. Sub Engineer Shah of R Ward (South) said the work was being carried out after obtaining all requisite permissions from concerned departments, including the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai. When asked about funds being used, a senior level engineer who did not wish to be named said, "Our job is to follow orders issued from the top."

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