Mumbai: The residents of Cuffe Parade’s Dalamal Co-operative Housing Society were faced with a water contamination problem as a utility pipeline allegedly broke due to Metro III work in the area late on Tuesday. The breakdown led to muddy water gushing out of the society’s taps. However, the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation’s (MMRC) concerned contractor, L&T, repaired the damage overnight. Fifteen tankers too were made available for the residents.
A senior MMRC official said, “These incidents are not done callously by metro workers. During work, such things happen. But the MMRC ensures that the damage is repaired immediately to cause less trouble for the residents.” Asked about the residents’ allegation, a civic official said, “Yes, the utility pipeline was broken and we had sent our staff immediately to do the needful.”
The residents started receiving contaminated water from Wednesday morning. The society informed its residents that the waste water line had mixed with the drinking water pipeline. “We are relying on water tankers after the pipeline was damaged in the metro work. When we encountered the soiled water, the members of the society approached the metro workers and learnt that the pipeline had been damaged,” said Robin Jaisinghani, a resident. Although the issue has been resolved, the residents are advised to avoid using piped water for the next two days.
Ever since the metro work commenced, south Mumbai has been facing many issues related to it. In a recent case, the kin of a 93-year-old woman wrote to the MMRCL, stating that she had to be hospitalised due to her sleep pattern getting disturbed because of the noise ensuing from the metro work.
Similarly, the 119-year old J.N Petiit Library and Sidharth College on D.N Road have complained about their walls developing cracks, allegedly due to metro work.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, the HC refused to stay the tunnelling work for the proposed Metro-3 line along the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz route. The court said that it would consult specialists from IIT-Bombay to examine the effect of tunnelling and drilling work on the foundation of several heritage buildings in south Mumbai.
“The court can direct any capable structural engineering firm or conservation architect to conduct a survey on the condition of these buildings and the effect that the metro work will have on their foundation,” said advocate Fredun De’Vitre.
The petition, filed through him, seeks a stay on the ongoing work at the proposed Hutatma Chowk metro rail station along line III, on the grounds that the work was causing damage to the old buildings, including several heritage structures in the area.
