Ramgarh Residents Protest; Better Toilets Or NOTA!!!
Mulund: On the one hand, there is already a dearth of public toilets in Mulund and, to add salt to the Mulundkars’ wounds, the few toilets that were built under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan are overflowing due to poor maintenance. Interestingly, Mulund’s Rohitdas Nagar that made headlines 2 years back due to prospective grooms in the region facing rejection by brides due to lack of toilets, is once again in news! Residents claim after the media hype, BMC T-Ward did make some toilets but, due to improper maintenance, the toilets are choked and overflowing.
Since the past 15 days, residents of Mochi Wada region located in Rohitdas Nagar in Mulund’s renowned Ramgarh Nagar slums are fed up of the stink emanating from the filthy toilet water which is overflowing due to blockage and ill-maintenance of the toilet. Leelabai Ahir, a local resident, told Home Times, “In 2017, when the media highlighted the toilet issue of our region, BMC constructed a toilet. However, it is a tragedy that BMC T-Ward is not maintaining the toilet well. The BMC officials do not clean the toilet at any time, hence the filth keeps accumulating and due to blockage, it leads to overflow.” She added, “We have made several complaints to clean the toilet and save us from the resulting pollution but, alas, BMC has ignored our complaints.”
It may be noted when Home Times came to know about the residents’ woes, it took urgent action and, on Home Times’ insistence, a second water pipeline was connected. However, people still complain that the overflow has not stopped and is making their life miserable.
Leelabai Ahir accepted that a second water pipeline has been connected. She said, “Yes, BMC has connected a second pipeline, but it has failed to stop overflow of dirty water. As a result, the region has become a mess.” “Before each election, the netas come with folded hands and make a bagful of promises. Elections are around the corner but still, the problem of toilets in our region is still not solved,” she lamented.
Bharti Chawan, another victim of pollution, told Home Times, “The issue of pollution has escalated due to unavailability of water 24 X7. Due to the filthy water, there is an increase in the breeding of mosquitoes. With dirty water all around, it has become troublesome for people to walk on the road. The worst affected are the little children and senior citizens as they are unable to walk up to the toilet.”
Residents of the area complained to Home Times that the overflow of water has seeped into an adjacent open ground of the BMC. Due to the murky water accumulating in the ground, the stench produced is making life miserable for the residents. Besides, people and infants are getting sick due to emanating pollution.
Rizwan Sheikh said, “Besides overflow, the 27-seat toilet has many more problems. Many times there is a shortage of water. BMC officials do not clean the toilet, hence it stinks. The tiles are stained with dirt and the scene inside the toilet is dull and suffocating. What is most painful is that every month BMC collects Rs. 100 for the maintenance of the toilet but, alas, it does not do its duty sincerely.”
Taking a jibe at BJP governance, Sheikh said, “The pathetic plight of the newly constructed toilet is enough to analyse the condition of the old toilets. It is, indeed, deplorable that though Mulund has its MP, MLA and all its corporators from BJP, it is a tragedy that Prime Minister Modi’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is being mocked at in Mulund!”
Samita Kamble, the corporator of the area, told Home Times, “Due to the urgent need for a toilet, BMC has erected the toilet on a war footing. However, after we received complaints of water shortage, we have connected another water pipeline, and this should stop the overflow.” She added, “We have also warned the authorities to penalize the contractors who has been given the contract of the maintenance of these toilets. We have warned them to keep the toilets need and clean.” “As regards the other toilets, we would soon construct them,” assured Kamble.
Solve Toilet Problem or face NOTA
Irked at the irresponsible attitude of both the politicians and the BMC, the residents of Ramgarh are up in arms against them. They claim the politicians only show their faces during elections. Hence, the residents have decided to press the NOTA button in the forthcoming election as neither BMC nor the local corporators have solved their toilet problem.
Resident moaned that the BMC has demolished the old toilets which were good and now the new toilets that BMC is constructing are being made at snail’s speed!! Residents claim due to the absence of toilet, the newly built toilet is bearing the burden of the entire crowd, hence it is malfunctioning!!! A resident said, “Truly, BMC has no empathy for the people’s woes.”
