Mumbai: Marol nullah gets a cleanup, thanks to pressure from Mid-Day

This swift response from authorities has brought some relief to the community. While many residents expressed satisfaction over the cleanup, some remained sceptical.

“We thank mid-day for highlighting our woes, the results of which are visible today. Though some portions are still left to be cleared, we are happy that most of the nullah is now clean, and debris is no longer lying on the edge. Even if it rains heavily now, the nullah won't clog as only a small amount of debris remains,” said Vishal Raut, a resident of Andheri.

However, Kamal Shah, another resident, said, “We had been complaining for several days, and nothing happened. Now, after the article came out, we suddenly see people cleaning. It shows that public pressure works. But we’ll wait and see if the entire stretch is cleared or if this is just a show.”

Asked why all the debris hadn’t been removed, a senior Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official said, “There’s immense pressure on us at the moment regarding nullah cleaning. We’ve ensured that even the remaining debris has no garbage. The leftover debris will be cleared soon.”

Activists suggest solutions 

Local activists say the problem has simple, low-cost solutions. “I agree that many living next to the nullah are slum dwellers who may lack civic awareness. In such cases, the BMC should start imposing fines. Instead of spending crores cleaning nullahs right before the monsoon, the corporation can carry out checks every fortnight and fine everyone under a blanket rule if the nullah is found dirty. That way, people will learn the hard way,” said Advocate Godfrey Pimenta, trustee of the NGO Watchdog Foundation.

He added, “Another solution is installing a mesh. Constructing a wall isn’t viable, but the corporation can definitely put up a mesh to prevent garbage from entering the nullah. Also, the BMC must ensure that contractors from nearby construction sites aren’t dumping debris into it.”