BMC fails to clean water pipelines

Civic body puts off demolitions of illegal shanties on Dharavi and Mankhurd pipelines twice in May citing upcoming sub-elections, monsoon and inadequate police protection as some of many excuses

BMC fails to clean water pipelines

Civic body puts off demolitions of illegal shanties on Dharavi and Mankhurd pipelines twice in May citing upcoming sub-elections, monsoon and inadequate police protection as some of many excuses

Despite an assurance to begin work on the demolition of shanties settled on the water pipelines at Dharavi and Mankhurd on May 23 and 26 respectively and rehabilitate the legal residents to Mankhurd, the BMC has not come good on its promise. This, after the repair work on these pipelines was already put off in April.

Mahim and Dharavi house 1,400 slums near and on water pipelines.
Picture for representational purpose only

Officials are ready with excuses. "On 23rd, the BMC squad which went for the demolition did not receive proper police protection, due to which it got cancelled," said an official from the G North ward on condition of anonymity. He added, "The demolition drive scheduled for May 26 was postponed due to the sub-elections of the corporator in the ward area."

The city gets its water through pipelines that begin from four lakesu00a0-- Tansa, Bhadsa, Vaitarna and Vihar in Wada area in Thane district. When shanties are constructed over these pipelines, contamination and water theft is rampant because slumdwellers tamper with the waterlines and draw water for their own use. Often, leaks go undetected due to the slum cover.

When contacted, Deputy Hydraulic Engineer Pramod Guhe said, "Due to lack of police protection and the sub elections, we couldn't go ahead with the demolitions. Now, we cannot take any action until June 26, because sub-elections will be held on that date. The commissioner has asked us to begin work after that date, but we do not carry out demolition work during the monsoon. So we have to wait till October."

Mahim and Dharavi house 1,400 slums near and on water pipelines. The legal ones (that have proof of residence prior to 1995) are to be rehabilitated to Mankhurd. The demolition drive, meant to take place in the G North and S wards, will demolish nearly 1,878 hutments, out of which 1,113 hutments will be eligible for rehabilitation at a cost of Rs 80 crore.