Wake-up call for all

The current floods and consequent disruption of life is a wake-up call for all of us. In fact, the last wake up call.

I have written to the M/ Westward office in Chembur, Addl Municipality Commissioner Nidhi Chaudhari, Municipality Commissioner Ajay Mehta, Mumbai Suburban collector, CM Phadnavis, put RTI applications and alerted local corporators and MLA about a totally illegal mosque on the megacity nallah alongside the service road at Postal Colony, Chembur. But no one has bothered to do anything about. It’s not because it’s a mosque. I would have objected had it been an illegal structure belonging to any religion or community. The fact is that the structure has no business being there. The nallah is blocked and that is the main reason for flooding in the area. Is it too much to expect the persons concerned to remove an illegal structure on the megacity nallah?

It is primarily because of the failure of the BMC and the collector that the city gets flooded in rains year after year.

Similarly, in Bangur Nagar, Goregaon West, activist Dr Avisha Kulkarni has been crying hoarse for years against the large-scale destruction of mangroves. Several illegal structures, including a school and temples, have come about on mangrove area. But in vain. Hundreds of such examples can be given from all over the metropolis. The Phadnavis govt has even decided to open up hectares of salt pan land for “development”!! The lands act as balancing chambers and absorb excess rainwater. Their “development”  is nothing short of the murder of Mumbai. Yet the govt is going ahead with its decision. Only the builders stand to gain by this decision.

It is primarily because of the failure of the BMC and the collector that the city gets flooded in rains year after year. Accused No. 1 is BMC, Accused No. 2 is the Collector and Accused No. 3 are the Politicians/ the state govt.

Unless citizens and media persons wake up, our Mumbai will be drowned forever. The current floods and consequent disruption of life is a wake-up call for all of us. In fact, the last wake up call.

Note:
1. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.