18 November,2010 06:44 AM IST | | Rinkita Gurav
With the President's visit over, BMC shows it true colours, ignores complaints of open manholes and filthy drains
The BMC went on the overdrive to clean up and beautify the city during US President Barack Obama's visit but they have now retreated to their older ways of handling public matters.
Surindra Khubchandaniu00a0 points at the uncovered manhole on the 3rd Road, Khar
Incessant complaints about uncovered manholes and filthy drains made to the BMC have gone unnoticed. Residents of Khar and Cuffe Parade, who filed the complaints, have been bearing the brunt of this civic apathy in their respective areas.
3rd Road, Khar
The footpath of 3rd Road, Khar has many uncovered manholes that are getting filled with sewage causing health hazards for residents.
u00a0
One of them, Surindra Khubchandani (56), who is also a member of H-West Ward Federation, has filed a complaint at the local BMC ward, requesting for immediate repair work. Three months after the complaint, the manholes are still untouched.
Khubchandani said, "I've been calling the storm water drainage head at the ward office but he has stopped receiving my calls.
I've also contacted local corporator Kavita Rodriques who has done a bit of work on the road ahead. But the exercise of making complaints to the BMC has become pointless as they don't reply. Even an activist like myself does not have any effect on them."
He said he understood the variety of problems that needs to be addressed one at a time, but added, "Each task takes so long, it hardly matters. The whole area gets flooded during monsoons and people living on ground floors have to shift to the first floor."
Wodehouse Road, Cuffe Parade
The footpath opposite the railway colony near Badhwar Park is no different. Some manholes are partially closed while some completely open. The sewage water from the manholes accumulates on the road due to the open slots in the gutter.
"The footpath becomes filthy and stinks. It has been the same for the past ten years but no work has been done even after repeated complaints," said Imran Merchant of Colaba ALM.
Merchant added, "Just because Obama did not pass through this road (Wodehouse Road) that doesn't mean that the BMC shouldn't clean it up. The open manholes needs lids."
The Other Side
Kavita Rodriques, corporator, Khar said, "Khubchandani had called me and I have already taken up the matter. But there is a step-by-step procedure which takes time.
The provisions have been made and the estimate is also ready. The matter will be sanctioned by the ward committee and drainage lines will get bigger and deeper on that road. I have been rectifying all the errors in my area and it will be done before monsoon."
Meanwhile, Prema Singh, corporator, Cuffe Parade, said that she had not been informed about the situation. "If I would have known about this problem, I would have looked into it. But it isn't too late and I will look into it now," she said.
Assistant Municipal Commissioners, Sunil Dhamane and Manik Kshirsagar, of 'A' and 'H-West' wards respectively, were unavailable for comment despite several attempts. Storm Water Drainage Head of H-West ward said, "I've been on a leave for a while now but I will look into the complaint as soon as I resume work."
