Even BMC can’t escape this very Mumbai problem

The HBT clinics were designed specifically for slums. Representation pic

Mumbai is so congested that it has become difficult even for BMC to find space for its projects! The newest example is the Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray (HBT) clinics. BMC announced them (to be run in containers) to provide health care in slums, but officials are unable to find enough space to set them up. After missing two deadlines to start the project, the civic body has now announced it will be launched on October 2.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in its budget for the financial year 2022-23 announced the opening of 200 HBT clinics to provide health facilities to Mumbaikars near their homes. It has now announced the launch of 50 HBT clinics and polyclinics from October 2. But the civic body is struggling hard to start these shipping container clinics. A senior BMC official said that the HBT clinics were designed specifically for slums but they are not getting enough space for them. For an HBT clinic, BMC needs minimum 600 sq ft to 1,000 sq ft of space (every clinic will have three containers), but getting even that is difficult.

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In slums like Dharavi which have a population of around 4 lakh, about 18 clinics and polyclinics will be required. File pic

One HBT container clinic is to cater to 25,000 people. In slums like Dharavi which have a population of around 4 lakh, about 18 clinics and polyclinics will be required. A senior official of G/North Ward said, "The BMC will start polyclinics in its existing dispensaries. But the space for container clinics is not available in Dharavi. Sites are being selected for the clinics but the space there is not sufficient for them." Most of these places have either been encroached upon or in some places, sewerage lines are in the way. Additional Municipal Commissioner Sanjeev Kumar has also been informed about this problem, the official said. A proposal to relax the rules for container space has also been sent to Kumar.

Swachh Bharat in the way

Besides Dharavi, BMC is unable to find enough space to start container clinics in slums in Govandi, Mankhurd, Bandra, Andheri-East, Jogeshwari and Dahisar also. The senior official said that there is a shortage of space in the slums here also. Most of the places are illegally occupied by the slum mafia. In some places toilets have been built under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Therefore, instead of 600 square feet, the officials have urged their seniors to allow the clinics even if there is 300 sq ft to 400 sq ft space (with one or two containers).

Deadlines not met

After the announcement of HBTs in the budget in February, BMC had initially shown readiness to start 10 of the clinics in June but they were not started. After this, Kumar announced they would start the HBT clinics on August 15, but this deadline was also missed. Now BMC has given a new deadline of October 2. According to BMC sources, so far around 35 HBT clinics and polyclinics have been selected, including 13 container clinics.

Executive Health officer of the BMC Dr Mangala Gomare admitted there was an issue of space."There is a space issue in some areas but that doesn't mean we will stop the search for it. Our team is working on it. If we don't have space to set up three containers then we will place two or just one big container. We are also looking for alternative places. By October 2 we will open 12 container clinics and the rest in a phase-wise manner," she said.