All who call this ward their home suffer basic problems, like unclean surroundings, dirty beaches and a lack of safe roads and footpaths
Several celebrities call this ward home, living in plush apartments in posh localities such as Versova and Lokhandwala. But K-West is also home to thousands of slum dwellers in shantytowns across Juhu Galli, Adarsh Nagar, Pathan Wadi, Aaram Nagar, and near Versova beach.
A mound of garbage sits in front of fruit and vegetable vendors at Four bungalows, posing a health hazard for everyone. Pics/Tehniyat Fatima
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No matter who they are and where they live, the residents all complain that they don’t get basic rights such as safe footpaths to walk on, or even clean surroundings and water. Citizens on this side of town are not too hopeful that things will change in this election either, with many claiming that politicians only turn up before the polls to make promises but never end up making good on them.
Subhash Ghai takes part in a cleanliness drive at Versova beach yesterday. Pic/PTI
This ward is blessed with the Metro, so many residents are spared a back-breaking commute by road. Those who do travel by road complain about potholes, waterlogging and long traffic jams. Even cleanliness is a major issue. Public toilets are few and far in between, and are ill-maintained. Slum residents suffer even greater neglect, and garbage vans don't even turn up to collect trash regularly.
Main Issues:
Trash town: Cleanliness, or the lack of it, has been a long-standing issue here. Mounds of rotting garbage can be seen everywhere - on the roadsides, near the fruit and vegetable market, near houses. This is particularly rampant near Manish market and SNDT. Residents said that even though they are unhappy about it, they frequently litter as well, simply because there aren't enough dustbins and dumpsters. At some spots, dumpsters are either broken or don't have lids, leading to rubbish spilling out on the roads, inviting health issues to the locality.
Water woes: With the water cut now at an end, the ward gets an adequate supply of water. The issue is that much of this water is not potable. Residents from the SNDT university area told mid-day that the first few buckets of water often have to be thrown away as the water is murky and has a strong, pungent stench.
Pedestrian problems: For residents of this ward, one of the biggest complaints is the utter lack of footpaths. In many places, the pavements are properly built. The few decent footpaths are encroached upon by hawkers and illegal parking. Pedestrians are forced to walk on the streets because of this, and it has led to many an accident in the past.
Ahead of the 2017 BMC polls, mid-day presents a 48-week initiative for citizens to raise their neighbourhood concerns. You and your corporator are now face-to-face in the Big Civic Battle. If you wish to highlight an issue troubling your ward, write to us at bmcpolls@mid-day.com
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