Urban News

Shaikh Mistry Nullah, Wadala
Residents here are apprehensive of yet another monsoon with water-logged roads. The nullah that runs along the Central Government Servants colony overflows every time there is moderate to heavy rainfall. Abdul Khan, resident of the nearby Sangam Nagar from where the nullah flows said that BMC officials had come to inspect the area once in May and then did some surface cleaning. “But there is still no visible increase in the storm water drain’s holding capacity,” said the area’s corporator from NCP, Niyaz Vanu. Without any retaining wall, the nullah is already filled with sewage water till the brim with floating garbage. Garbage lies on all edges of the nullah.

Mankhurd station Nullah
The problem is worse for slum dwellers staying close to the railway track nullah near Mankhurd station. Residents say that no BMC official has come there in the past years. The nullahs remains clogged with right from garbage dumped in plastic bags to worn-out shoes to torn mattresses. While the residents are quick to blame the civic authorities, they themselves contribute for the major part of the problem by throwing all kinds of household waste in to the open drain. Heavy rainfall in this area will result in flooding of thousands of nearby shanties and areas of SRA building colonies. 

Islampura Nullah, Chembur
Residents and shop owners around the Islampura Nullah at RC Marg in Chembur are happier than before. They say that for the first time in many years, BMC officials have cleaned the nullah thrice in the month of May. However, the problems seems far from over as excessive dumping of debris on the edges of the nullahs have created possibilities of the silt flowing back in to the nullah during rains. Mohammed Ansari, owner of the Ansari Watch Co., said that every year the flood water enters his shop and he has to shut his shop on some days. “This time, however, works seems to have started at least. We hope they come again before monsoons and clean the remaining portions and transport the silt to a dumping ground,” said Ansari.

Dahunakarwadi Nullah, Kandivali West
This drain still has uncleared debris in it. On top of that, the overbridge above the nullah which had been broken has not been repaired yet. “It is going to be a double whammy as the debris of the broken bridge still lies inside the nullah and part of the bridge which is not repaired would mean more congestion,” said a resident.

Poisar Nullah, Kandivli
The nullah which falls on one side of the Poisar River has been a big flooding spot during the 26/7 deluge. Vipin Zala, a shop owner just opposite the Dahanukar wadi nullah said that “every year the nullah gets choked and the water flows out towards our shops”. Also the bridge above the nullah which had been broken has not been completely repaired, he added. All the debris of the broken bridge is still in the nullah, he said. Obviously the water will overflow into the nearby areas, he added.

A resident of the Madhupuri society near the nullah said that the ground floor of the building gets flooded every time as the nullah is not cleaned properly. “We do not have any place to go and complain.” For them the much promised information boards by Uddhav Thackeray on his recent visit to the nullah looks like a far cry.

Another nullah which lies on the other side of Poisar River in Kandivali east, parallel to the railway tracks is in fact in a worse condition. The nullah and especially the areas where it passes through, the slums near the Thakur Complex, is choked with silt and floating objects. The slums which houses more than 2,000 families would be the worst hit. “If it rains continuously for some hours, our homes will be flooded on the first day itself,” said Pushpa, a resident. Even the smaller drains in the narrow lane of the slums were choked with plastic and other silt.

The nullah is full of garbage which the residents throw including cow dung from the ‘tabelas’ nearby. “We don’t have any alternate place to throw garbage as the BMC people don’t collect our garbage regularly,” said another resident. “We have no choice but to throw our garbage in the nullah,” he added.

Gorai Nullah
Another spot which could cause trouble is the Gorai Nullah near the Gorai creek. This nullah which falls after the Borivali Link Road and just before the Gorai creek has illegal encroachments on its edges. The edges of the nullah have slums and also tonnes of gunny bags kept by garbage collectors. The garbage bags would fall into the nullahs when it rains and choke them.

While Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray, on his recent visits to nullahs in the city, ordered the BMC to put up an information board at all ongoing nullah desilting sites, Newsline did not find a single board. With names and contact number of local ward officials and contractors, the board was to help citizens complain about incomplete or unsatisfactory work.