Located right next to the Bhandup pipeline which supplies millions of litres of water to the city is the thirsty Adivasi hamlet of Peru Baug Pada, whose only source of water this summer is from dilapidated wells with greenish mossy water. The rehabilitation of nearly 200 Adivasi families living inside the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) campus has been stalled for the past five years for want of valid documents.

Most of these adivasis don’t have valid address proof since IIT never allowed them any water or electric connection. The MMRDA, which is going to rehabilitate them, requires such documents and is not ready to budge without it. The Adivasis now fear another monsoon in this hamlet where at least two to four people die every year due to waterborne diseases.