While the project in Saiwadi area is yet to be handed over to the BMC, residents say builder told them he doesn’t have money for repairs
Sewage water overflows and floods the nearby roads in Saiwadi area, Andheri East
In yet another example of people living in Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) buildings not getting the basic facilities due to the confusion between the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and SRA over taking responsibility, a project in the Saiwadi area of Andheri East has been facing drainage and sewage leakage issues.
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Construction of the project started in 1999 and it still has not been completed, so it has not been handed over to the BMC. Though the residents are paying water and sewage charges to the BMC for the facilities, they are not being able to avail the same. The local corporator has sought the civic chief’s permission to use his funds to repair the sewage lines but is yet to receive a response.
One of the residents said, “Leakage problems start after the first spell of rains. The roads are in a miserable condition and the sewage lines overflow every day. We complained to the builder and SRA four years back. They visited the area and assured to lay another sewage line, but it never happened. This time the builder said that he doesn’t have money to do it.”
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The drainage ducts in Saiparvati (285 flats), Saidatta (250 flats) and Sai Vandana (100 flats) buildings are narrower than the required diameter and not in good condition as well. “The issue started four to five years back when three more buildings were added to the same line. Every morning and late in the evening, when water supply starts, the sewage pipes overflow. The issue escalates during monsoon. Vehicles on the road splash dirty water on pedestrians. Last year even two people fractured their legs in an attempt to avoid the sewage water on the road,” said Uday Yadav, resident of Sai Vandana.
“The BMC focuses so much on hygiene amid the fear of a third wave of the pandemic, but here the situation is just the opposite. The sewage water directly flows to our chawl, just adjacent to the SRA buildings,” said Rajanikant Patel, resident of Maldar driver chawl.
Satish Lokhande, CEO of SRA, told mid-day, “There is an issue. I have instructed our engineers to visit the site on Monday and see what can be done to solve the problem.”
Local corporator Abhijeet Samant said, “As the project has not been handed over to the BMC, I can’t follow it up with the local ward or use my funds for repair work. For the convenience of the residents, permission should be given to use corporator and other funds for repairs related to drainage, water supply and road. I have requested the municipal commissioner to allow me to use the funds on the lines of the BMC circular dated December 15, 2020, through which permission has been given for repair of drainage ducts.
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