With the BMC elections scheduled for Thursday, our sutradhaars share their well-researched wishlist, hoping that elected corporators will finally walk the talk, and offer respite to troubled Bombaywallahs
The tree-lined Oval Maidan was the ideal location for Sir PM and Lady Flora to discuss the key points of their dossier ahead of the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections. Illustration/Uday Mohite
Lady Flora realised that Sir PM had suggested an earlier-than-usual time for their weekend walk. She knew why. It was the upcoming civic elections, the much-awaited democratic process to help the city up its game on all counts in a fast-changing world. Both had decided to meet at Oval Maidan. It offered them peace and quiet as compared to a road, as well as a stunning, 360-degree view of some of their favourite sights. It was the ideal location to discuss the key points of their dossier before D-day.
She noticed Sir PM walked with more purpose than his usual relaxed gait on most weekends. This was an important chat, after months, and, in fact, years of discussing the issues that had to be addressed in these elections. “I seriously hope the newly-elected corporators have had a long, hard look at the city’s woes, and have developed practical long-term solutions. I wish they would use it as a primer for their own thought process when it comes to executing their manifestos. You know, I am hopeful that despite the scepticism around their intent, they take notes from it, and keep the citizen front and centre,” Sir PM told his friend, as he rolled out a sheet of paper, which was packed with data that he had meticulously typed out on his Edison-Mimeograph typewriter.
Lady Flora looked closely at the list. “Pheroze, shouldn’t we firm up an abridged version for our readers?” she asked. “Of course. This is a reference for us to chat about on this pleasant January evening,” assured Sir PM, as he glanced at it. “You mean, the calm before the storm,” Lady Flora winked, adding, “Shall we begin?”
Sir Pheroze started, “Firstly, I think the dangerous air pollution levels ought to be addressed. It’s reached alarming rates. I’ve personally been victim to it, as has my family from SoBo, as well as our cousins in Bandra. We keep thinking that we’ll never get Delhi’s infamous tag, but a disaster is right at our doorstep. The ad-hoc solutions that the civic gods have been implementing don’t make sense. A science-backed blueprint devised by academics and climate experts is the need of the hour. The city needs a strong team to ensure we aren’t left gasping at a disaster when it’s too late.”
As the duo walked around the tree-lined, green maidan, another environmental issue came up for discussion. “Pheroze... look at the green cover here; it’s remarkable how citizens from the area rallied together, and have ensured that trees are not felled mindlessly. That it’s part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a blessing. It’s quite rampant across the rest of the city and the suburbs, as this newspaper has been diligently reporting on its pages. But I feel there are not enough watchdogs to ensure that authorities, builders and private parties don’t have a free hand when it comes to reducing our threatened green cover, be it the mangroves, the Aarey Forest and Sanjay Gandhi National Park and other fragile green lungs. Being a coastal city doesn’t make things easier. Accountability and awareness of the fallout of dwindling green cover, is essential.”
“Infrastructural development is another huge concern. While it’s being implemented at a decent speed now, a lot more needs to be done,” rued Sir PM, adding, “Dare I say that back in my time, Bombay was better equipped to cater to commuters. Today, despite the opening of Metro lines, more local trains and railway stations, it appears inadequate. The increasing population in the suburbs and extended suburbs, the debris, the perennial road repairs, the messed-up footpaths… the public is stewing about all these unresolved issues. The local railway network needs a massive overhaul, as is the BEST bus services, two of the city’s oldest and most relied-on means of public transport. The working middle class is bearing the brunt. Most netas never use public transport unless it’s a publicity stunt.”
Lady Flora pulled out a small note, eliciting a curious look from her friend. “What’s this?” he asked. “I recovered this from my diary, which I kept during the dark days of the lockdown. I had jotted down my observations from those times. I recall how the city was gripped by a terrifying caseload, and worse, casualties. I think while the lawmakers eventually were able to navigate the precarious scenario, they stuttered for most of the phases, but we desperately need affordable healthcare. We cannot forget how the pandemic brought the city to its knees. The temporary centres were lifesavers, but what about a long-term solution? We don’t have the means to offer low-cost, accessible healthcare for such a large city where most are middle and lower-middle-class citizens.”
Lastly, both agreed that the city needed better facilities for its children and seniors — open green spaces that are safe and clean, affordable childcare centres, as well as senior care homes and hospices. “We owe it to them,” they nodded.
Sir PM, as he did in lawyer’s robes, signed it off in style, “Now is the time for corporators to realise that every vote must be earned. As a city, we should never forget. We’ve been let down too often and must think before we cast our vote.”
mid-day’s Features Editor Fiona Fernandez relishes the city’s sights, sounds, smells and stones...wherever the ink and the inclination takes her.
She tweets @bombayana. Send your feedback to mailbag@mid-day.com
The views expressed in this column are the individual’s and don’t represent those of the paper.
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