‘Save Dahisar’s mangroves, open spaces’
Citizens Speak Of the Need to Evict Encroachers at Public Discussion Organized By TOI
Yogita Rao TNN 2nd March 2014
R-North ward includes Dahisar East and West, Borivali IC Colony & Mandapeshwar
R-North ward will lose its charm if encroachments are not stopped. This was the refrain of citizens who turned out in strength to seek solutions to problems in their ward at a public discussion organised by The Times of India as part of its Mumbai Patrol campaign on Saturday.
TOI had reported on Thursday how the ward may be one of the happiest in the city, but there were concerns over illegal occupation of public spaces and destruction of mangroves owing to encroachments on wetlands.
Residents put questions to ward officer S Dhonde and their corporators Sheetal Ashok Mhatre, Sheetal Mukesh Mhatre and Prakash Darekar.
Datta Kosambe, an IC Colony resident, congratulated the ward officer for keeping communication with citizens going, but said the BMC’s zero-accountability stand on encroachments on wetlands was unacceptable.
Dhonde said in the last six months, only one complaint on encroachments – at NL Complex – had been reported. “We have taken action. I am ready to take action under the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning (MRTP) Act if residents come forward with complaints,” he said. He said encroachments could be dealt with if there was support from the revenue department but rued that there had been little communication with state agencies.
Referring to Ganpat Patil Nagar, where several slums have come up, Darekar said structures there are regularly razed by BMC but come back again. “People have encroached upon all public places, be it footpaths, grounds or mangroves. BMC and the state need to take immediate measures to discourage this practice,” he said, adding that such structures had mushroomed because of vote bank politics. “If amenities such as water supply and electricity are provided, such settlements will multiply,” he said.
Figure 1 haze of pollution from Ganpat Patil Nagar slums in CRZ-1
When Casandra R from IC Colony pointed out how open spaces were not accessible to residents, Dhonde said there was a court stay on adoption of such spaces by private parties. But Sheetal Ashok Mhatre said the stay was for new adoptions. “There are spaces which were given away to private parties. Their lease is over. BMC can take back these properties and make them available to the public. Some leases expired 4-5 years ago, but BMC has failed to take back the spaces,” she said.
Darekar said he would raise the issue in the BMC and demanded that at least one open space be made available for residents in every region in the ward.
Residents also voiced their disappointment over maintenance of the Dahisar river, which has now been reduced to a nullah. Willy Shirsat, a senior citizen, said the river water had once been potable. “It is because of the BMC that the river is a nullah,” he said. Another resident said sewage pipelines from residential buildings nearby opened into the river.
Dhonde said residents should come forward with complaints in this regard but added that maintenance of major nullahs situated close to the river fell under the jurisdiction of Central agencies, not the ward office.
Sheetal Mukesh Mhatre said it was not possible to clean the point where nullahs meet the river as the area had a thick cover of mangroves. “I have raised the issue in the House several times, but there are technical problems. Also, residents need to display civic sense and not dump waste in the nullahs. They get clogged that way,” she said.
When Ratnadeep Ghurav from Ashokvan raised the issue of illegal parking of autorickshaws, Dhonde said the policy for parking would soon be out and the problem of illegal parking would be taken care of.
Datta Kosambe said corporators should devise a common minimum programme.
PEOPLESPEAK
The fire brigade plot in ward number one has been given to two private developers for commercial purposes. It is very important for residents of Borivli and Dahisar to have the fire brigade at the designated spot. The BMC needs to acquire the plot and utilize it
Harish Pandey of New Link Road Residents Forum, an active NGO| RESIDENT OF NEW LINK ROAD, DAHISAR
For senior citizens, it has become very difficult to walk on the roads in IC Colony. Hawkers have taken over the roads and footpaths. The ones which are available are dug up either by private parties or the government
John D’Souza | RESIDENT OF IC COLONY, BORIVLI
For the past two years we have been writing to BMC to take action against illegal shrines that have come up on footpaths. The BMC has failed to initiate action, and the locals communalise the issue.
S Batliwala | RESIDENT OF THE WARD
Slumdwellers cannot be solely blamed for encroachments in Ganpat Patil Nagar. It is the land mafia that’s exploiting the poor. The government has failed to rehabilitate slumdwellers.
Ashish Fernandes | RESIDENT OF THE WARD
The Dahisar river, which is now reduced to a nullah, is a major health hazard for residents living in the vicinity. There is a park near the river which is not being used as it is infested with mosquitoes
S Naidu | RESIDENT OF DAHISAR (WEST)
A resident makes a point
Corporator Sheetal Mukesh Mhatre, ward officer S Dhonde and corporators Prakash Darekar and Sheetal Ashok Mhatre at the public discussion on Saturday 1st March 3, 2014.
Publication: The Times Of India Mumbai; Date: Mar 2, 2014; Section: Times City; Page: 6
SPEAK UP ABOUT YOUR D WARD
The Times of India has organised a town hall meet to discuss issues in D ward. Here, ward residents can put questions to the BMC administration and corporators, their elected representatives Venue | Gautam Devagya Brahman Samaj, 107, Tatya Gharpure Path, Jagannath Shankar Seth Marg, Near Thakurdwar signal, Mugbat Lane, Girgaon, Charni Road, Mumbai 400004
Date | Tuesday, March 4
Time | 4pm to 6pm
Newlinkroad's Blog 
Leave a comment