Cops look for tent cover, but dept has no money to maintain them

The tent at Navghar was filthy with a broken door; (right) The tent at BKC had some construction material inside. Pics/Rajesh Gupta

The police department seems to have no money to protect its force from the elements. As per an RTI reply, the canopies set up by Reliance Foundation last summer, to protect cops from the harsh sun and rain, today lie disused. The tents had been especially welcomed by the policewomen.

"The tents helped us keep an eye on traffic as well as intercept errant motorists," said a constable from the eastern region. "But as time passed, the condition of the tents became bad due to heavy rain. We requested our seniors to have a look at them, but nobody cared. Today, the tents are in a sorry state," added the constable.

This one at Sion circle had loose wires with sparks flying

Heat and high humidity take a heavy toll on policemen, particularly those above 50. Many of them faint due to dehydration during nakabandi or bandobast duties in summer months. "For a constable like me, it was a blessing as we were stationed on the Western Express Highway. Thanks to the tents, many of us could stand for long hours. We could even store water and keep our belongings, but they are in such bad condition now that it's impossible to sit inside," said a constable from the western region.

Tent-check by mid-day

mid-day visited many locations to find the exact condition of the tents. At Navghar police station, the door was found broken. It was tied with wire to hold it. Without regular cleaning, it has become filthy. "It was of great help to us in the heat and during the monsoon. But now we may collapse if we sit inside," said a cop.

This tent at Mahim actually blocks a road

At BKC, a tent had been set up on a footpath. There were no policemen inside. Instead, some construction material had been kept in the cabin. A traffic warden nearby said it has been lying abandoned for many months.

mid-day spotted a tent at Mahim, an important junction on the VIP route. The empty tent not only ruins the overall appearance of the road, but also blocks a vital lane going towards Dadar. "For months, we haven't seen anyone inside the tent. No idea why they have blocked the road," wondered Suraj Kumar, a taxi driver. "The tent might cause an accident at night. They should remove it."

Sion has a tent at the Sion circle. When this correspondent and mid-day photojournalist entered it, we found live wires with sparks flying and an alcohol bottle. Taxi drivers in the vicinity said some random people use it at night to drink.

The Chunabhatti police station's tent, installed on the Sion-Panvel Highway, was locked. Cops said they use it whenever there is a bandobast.

The tent at Anushakti Nagar, right in front of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, was also abandoned. Nearby shopkeeper said cops don't use it regularly.

"We don't get funds to maintain it. The tents have been placed in vital locations and helpful for women staff. Even for electricity, we have to get a connection from a nearby shop and it's difficult on the highway," said a senior inspector requesting anonymity.

In response to an RTI query, the Mumbai police acknowledged that no funds have been set aside to maintain the tents. There is no contract with the foundation to maintain them either.

mid-day tried to contact Joint Commissioner (Law and Order) Vishwas Nangare-Patil for his response, but the officer remained unavailable.