BMC has Rs.20,000 crores to spend on infra related projects but lacks fund of Rs.20 crores to be spent on providing basic civic. Letter to Hon. Chief Minister of Maharashtra & Ors

Bhartya varta :

Jagdish K Kashikar

Freelancer Journalist cum Legal/Investment Consultant, Mumbai, Maharashtra.

WhatsApp - 9768425757

This is to infrom you that Gorai, Uttan and Manori Region was declared as Tourism Zone, despite 10,000 objections lodged by the locals in the year 2013

As you may be well aware that this region has one of most serene and tranquil beaches unspoilt by concrete jungle of Mumbai. Even though this Region forms part Mumbai but since independence this Region has been deprived of basic civic amenities such as Drinking water, Hospitals, Primary health center, Municipal Market, Playground, Parks, Mini Fire Station, Maternity Home to name a few.

Every morning, hundreds of villagers from Gorai, Manori and other small hamlets, scattered across the sea-hemmed land that is locally called ‘Dharavi Bhet’, leave their homes carrying baskets of bitter gourds, pumpkins and other vegetables of the season to markets in Malad and Borivali.

The villagers of this Region are primarily farmers and fishermen but there is no Gramsevak appointed by Collector for educating the local farmers about various schemes launched by State Government for the benefit of the local farmers. There are lot of Adivasis who too are facing survival issues since there is no electricity in many Adivasis Padas.

In recent past the Mumbai Municipal Corporation ( BMC) has thrust many unwarranted development infrastructure projects in Mumbai, which are nothing but blowing up tax payers money.

The BMC has colossal budgets for following big ticket projects some of which are Dharavi Beth area :

A. Rs.12,500 crores Coastal Road Project.

B. Rs.6000 crores Mega Roads Concretisation Project.

C. Rs.1600 crores Desalination Plant.

D. Rs.790 crores First Phase of Mumbai Beautification Project.

E. Rs.568 crores 7.2 kms long Ropeway  Gorai to Marve Project.

F. Rs.575 crores Bridge across Gorai Creek.

G. Rs.210 crores Cable Strayed Bridge across Manori Creek.

H. Rs.90 crores Ro-Ro Project.

In terms Section 22 of MRTP Act, it is statutory duty of BMC to provide basic civic amenities to  residents of Dharavi Bhet, but BMC has deprived the locals the basic facilities for the reasons best known to the Corporation.

The Corporation has  colosal Budget for every other activities but the same is lacking in providing to the Dharavi Bet Region.

On one hand BMC makes tall claims about providing civic amenities to Mumbaikars but on the other hand BMC continues to have callous attitude when it comes to providing basic civic amenities to local residents despite locals lodging repeated complaints with BMC and local Politicians. The local MLA has audacity to beautify local lake at Kulvem despite stiff opposition from locals thereby neglecting their basic civic necessities.

We hope both local Politicians and BMC live up to people reasonable expectations.

Watchdog Foundation

Bombay East Indian Association