For over four months, the stretch below the Metro rail corridor near Asalpha is full of water overflowing from sewage chambers and storm water drains; MMRDA, MMOPL pass the buck
People wade through the filthy water. Locals allege that the authorities are not paying heed to the problem. Pics/Shrikant Khuperkar
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For over four months, people travelling via the Andheri-Ghatkopar Link Road below the Metro rail corridor near Asalpha, have been forced to walk through dirty water overflowing from the sewage chambers and the storm water drains. While local residents allege that the reason for the overflowing water is the improper connection of the sewage pipe from the Metro corridor to the main sewage line below, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL) authorities claim that the drains are overflowing because they are choked with waste thrown by people.
“It would be wrong to criticise us for the overflowing gutters below the Asalpha Metro station, as the Metro pipes are connected to the main line, and so there is no question of holding us responsible,” said an MMRDA engineer.
Pedestrians staying in the area, including school children, have to walk through the dirty water. They also have to cover their noses as a result of the stench. Locals claim that the problem has been there for more than four months now, but none of the government authorities have taken note of this.
Mosquito breeding ground
Abhijeet V, a resident of Sakinaka, who uses the AGLR on a regular basis said, “The problem of overflowing sewage water has been causing inconvenience for 4-6 months but it has not been addressed. This proves how serious the authorities are. Every time I take this road, I have to cover my nose.”
It is not only the pedestrians, but even the shopkeepers are fed up with this problem, as the water collects near the shops. Locals fear that if proper measures are not taken, it can turn into a breeding ground for
mosquitoes.
A similar problem of waterlogging was faced by locals and motorists more than two years ago, because of rain water falling on the Metro corridor. But the MMOPL-MMRDA took steps and the storm water pipes from Metro rail girders were connected to the main storm water drainages along the road, after which the waterlogging reduced.
MMOPL says
A Mumbai Metro spokesperson said, “We have completed all civil work, including that of the sewage and storm water drains, around the inception of Metro in 2014, to the satisfaction of all concerned and handed over the same to civic bodies.”
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