Heavy vehicles nuisance for Bhandup residents

Manori residents oppose reclamation of wetlands

Despite a rule to protect sites that fall under the Wetlands Rules 2010,blatant reclamation of wetlands has been taking place at Manori,allege residents. Locals and environmental activists monitoring the activities are up in arms.

According to residents,debris is regularly dumped on mangroves on government land,close to an amusement park,in Manori.

Locals said two years ago,they had moved the high court,when debris was being dumped,following which it had stopped. However,the dumping activity resumed four months ago.

“Debris is being dumped with the help of dumpers every day. We wrote to the BMC and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board,last week. Waste is dumped on mangroves and land is being reclaimed for further construction,’’ said Gaurav Agnihotri,a resident.

Chakala junction nightmare for pedestrians

Crossing the road at Chakala junction in Andheri (east) has become a nightmare for pedestrians,claim residents. While youngsters run across the road,narrowly escaping speeding vehicles coming from different directions,senior citizens struggle to get across the junction that has no zebra crossing.

“On Tuesday evening,a pedestrian was hit by a motorcycle. Accidents are common at this junction because all the traffic is directed towards a single lane. Metro construction is underway on the other road leading to the junction from the Western Express Highway,” said Gilroy Lobo,a Chakala resident.

Heavy traffic from Sakinaka,International Airport,Seepz and Mahakali Caves Road are directed towards Cardinal Gracious Road,creating a bottleneck at the junction.

The one-way road that carries traffic from the Western Express Highway towards Chakala junction is clogged with debris from the Metro-1 construction. “Although the road is one-way,there are two lanes and motorists rush in from both lanes making it a dangerous junction to cross. A girl was mowed down by the bus at the junction in February,” Lobo added.

“Since the Metro work began,the signal at the junction has been shifted. The traffic department blames the Metro work for the chaos. We have taken it up on ourselves to man the road to help pedestrians cross,” said Fr Adolf Muclar,assistant parish priest of Holy Family Church,Chakala.

The municipal councillor was dismissive of the issue. “No one has filed a complaint regarding this. Even if somebody does,we will be able to take action only after Diwali,” said Kesharben Patel,municipal councillor.

Sewage water seeps into residences in H-West ward

For the past two years,residents of Chapel Road,Bandra (west) in H-West ward have been complaining of sewage water entering their residences. “We have repeatedly complained to the BMC,but they have failed to resolve the issue. The corporation claims that the sewer line running underground is broken and the problem can be solved only after a new line is constructed. But,this will require the demolition of one of our old Gaothan crosses,” said a resident,Francisca Falcon.

“This summer,the ward officer agreed to take up the work without harming the crosses,but till now work has not begun,though it was scheduled to start in the first week of October. Corporator Tanveer Patel told us the BMC would start the work only after he issued the orders,” Falcon alleged.

Congress corporator Patel said the work would begin immediately. “Labourers wanted a holiday for the festivals and hence work has been delayed. Work will begin on October 31”.

Contributed by Anjali Lukose,

Gautam S Mengle,Dipti Sonawala

and Alison Saldanha