MUMBAI, Sept 20: Mumbai is witness as inter-generational colonisation where the present generation is taking away from the future, according to environmentalist Bittu Sehgal.Forests are being encroached upon, mangroves are being torn out for setting up sewage projects, water is being polluted and now they are planning to get drinking water from Koyna. ``In the end the patient who is planning a bypass is told by the doctor, change your diet,'' Sehgal says using an analogy of a suffering patient.``Nobody, apparently, seems to be telling this city of Mumbai to change its diet and stop consuming anymore. If they are, it is falling on deaf ears. At least, of the decision makers. Here we were at a meeting at Raj Bhavan, with the chief minister and others, telling them about the traffic and pollution in the city. And what do they say? That we will build 57 flyovers in the city,'' he says, exasperated.The result will be smog, more pollution and more traffic. ``I am fated to be a doomsayer,'' Sehgal saiddrawing bleak pictures of a city losing itself in its desire to keep up with the population. Sehgal was talking on the `Changing face of the city' at the IMC hall in a seminar organised by the Bombay Local History Society (BLHS).He wasn't the only person to paint a grim scenario for Mumbai, the city bursting in its seams with people, aspirations and apathy. ``We seem to have become more selfish, more self-centered. Citizens feel alienated, helpless and apathetic,'' described Veena Singhal, president of the BLHS.In its annual seminar on the city, all the three speakers, Sehgal, Prof B Arunachalam, a demographer and former police commissioner Satish Sahney spoke of the need for a more concerned citizenry, a more aware public and a well informed public opinion to change the city's development pattern.Talking about the ill effects of plastics, Sehgal used slides to show plastic bags strewn like leaves under trees in the Borivli National Park. He bemoaned the disinterest of the people. Just as did SatishSahney.Speaking on `Crime in the City', Sahney recounted how the first gangwar took place over Rs 2 lakh when Dawood Ibrahim refused to distribute the ransom money of a kidnapping with dons Alam Zaid and Peerzada.``Even now recruitment to the underworld takes place from the society. It is the responsibility of the public to support law enforcement agencies,'' he said. ``Do you know that 230 illegal weapons were seized in the eight months of this year from the citizenry, out of which three were the AK variety?'' he asked rhetorically wondering about the need for such weapons.
