Residents unhappy about basic amenities in Mahul

Mumbai: Residents who were given houses in Mahul expressed unhappiness. They have complained about the area’s poor infrastructure and air pollution.

Earlier in August this year, the Bombay high court (HC) said that in light of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order, which termed Mahul ‘not good for human habitation’, it cannot force people to move there.

The state government has approached the NGT for modifying its order and removing the observations about Mahul being inhabitable.

Residents staying in Mahul village and project affected people that have been rehabilitated in Mahul have raised concerns over the impact of pollution from nearby factories and refineries.

Jitu Bobade, a project affected person staying in Mahul said, “Our children are suffering from regular coughing and breathing issues. On some days, it is difficult for us to keep the windows open due to heavy smoke outside. We just want the government to relocate us to a place where there is no pollution.”

Few residents have also raised complaints about excessive leakage from roofs and walls. “We have been complaining to the BMC about leakage from our ceilings. We are already staying in congested spaces and now there is constantly fear of ceiling falling over us,” said another resident.

There are around 72 buildings in Mahul that have been built by the slum rehabilitation authority (SRA) and were then handed over to the civic body in April 2010.

The BMC has undertaken several projects like Brihanmumbai Stormwater Disposal System, road widening, removal of Tansa pip-eline encroachments, etc. for which the civic body has to provide alternate accommodation to the project affected people. Majority of the people, who have been provided alternate housing at Mahul, have complained about lack of basic civic amenities.

Shiv Sena corpora-tor Mangesh Satamkar said, “People are willing to shift to Mahul, but there is lack of basic amenities.”