Mumbai: BMC sealed only toilet without making alternative arrangements, say Vile Parle locals

AMID efforts by the government to provide indoor latrines to millions of citizens under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan comes a disheartening dilemma faced by nearly 150 residents in Vile Parle West where civic authorities have allegedly sealed their only common toilet declaring it dilapidatedNonagenarian Lakshmi Solanki said it becomes traumatic for her to walk a long distance to access a toiletThe residents of Old Police Line Coutinho Chawl on Lajpatrai Road say they have been using the toilet for decades and the BMC has not made any alternative provisionLakshmi Solanki 90 a local resident said what they were now facing was denial of a very basic amenity ldquoAt this age I can barely walk up to the common toilet The BMC has put up a notice that the structure is dilapidated Am I and other women in my gaothan expected to defecate on the railway tracksrdquo she askedRakesh Solanki 28 another local produced copies of letters and signature campaigns written to the BMC where they have requested that the toilet which has six stalls and no running water or electricity should be rebuilt or repaired and there could be a possibility that what is a very basic amenity for them could be an eyesore for someldquoThe toilet is so filthy that it stinks like hell The interiors are stained with paan and it has broken tiles but we are forced to use it as we have no other choicerdquo he saidLocal resident and activist Hina Shroff who has been following the issue for years alleged that the toilet had been repaired many times in the past by every corporator elected but has been totally neglected in the past few yearsldquoOn request from the public using the broken down facility I have been calling pumping station people to clean the overflowing toilets and have reason to believe that there could be some with vested interests who want to ensure that it is no longer used by the common manrdquo she alleged Shroff added ldquoHow can a structure 10 ft in height with no load bearing water tank be suddenly dangerous and beyond repairrdquoCorporator Anessh Naval Makwaaney said he had received numerous complaints from a resident association that the toilet which is built on a junction that gives them access to the SV Road was a major obstruction for pedestrians and trafficldquoThe resident association which represents over 1500 members complained that the entire road had been encroached upon and the toilet was built for nearby slums which is quite far and It violated the norms set by MHADA and MSIB Plus there are toilets in Misquita Chawl which could be used by these localsrdquo said the corporator He said ldquoI still wrote to BMC in 2018 asking them to repair the structure but no action was takenrdquo he said midday has copies of both lettersMakwaaney said he approached the BMC after learning about the sealing but was informed that the structure was unstable and could lead to dire consequences if urgent action was not taken ldquoThere is a political vendetta at play to tarnish my name and there could be habitual complainants with vested interests behind the screen If the BMC says the structure is unstable how can I being a nontechnical person take any responsibility if any accident occursrdquo he saidBMC Assistant Commissioner from K West Ward Vishwas Mote said a competent structural auditor had declared the toilet dilapidated ldquoThe structure is on the road and it shall only be demolished after alternate arrangements are made We are also making standby arrangements in a nearby chawlrdquo he said150No of people affected by closure