Residents of Subramanian Nagar chawl in Santacruz East have been forced to consume dark black water and grain that reeks of the pungent smell of nullah water for the past few months. Locals, who use hand pumps to extract water due to the absence of proper water connections, irregular supply or pressure-related issues, were seen beginning their daily quest for clean water at 4 am on Tuesday, spending an hour toiling in the hope of obtaining less contaminated water.

Residents asked why they, citizens of Mumbai, have to use hand pumps while villages are getting tap water connections. “The closest functioning water source of the BMC is 250 metres away which is why pipes of that length have to pass through the Vakola nullah and the latter’s water seeps into them. These pipes also get stolen or broken. Hence each family has to spend Rs 10,000 per year to replace or repair them while the BMC only spends Rs 2,400 for installing them initially,” said Nitin Kamble, who heads the Community-Based Organisation (CBO), which comprises resident volunteers.