Bandra, Khar residents get down to clean their streets

A group of Bandra and Khar residents took it upon themselves to clean two major roads –the Linking road and the SV Road, of gravel, pebbles and other construction debris early Sunday morning. What's more, in three hours, they managed to gather a dumper full of waste, which was then disposed off by the Brihanmumbai municipal corporation (BMC) workers.

Initiated by Aftab Siddique, an activist, about 10 to 12 members of different citizens' groups joined the 'safai abhiyaan' –the clean up drive. “We were fed up of the BMC's reluctant attitude in cleaning up of the main roads. So, we decided to do it ourselves,” said Siddique.

Siddique said she intends to carry out more such drives in the future. “Most of the time, when residents carry out repair or construction work in their houses, the debris are often left outside their homes. Apart from that there is scattered green waste and other dry waste generated in that area, more because its a commercial area,” she said.

She, however, was happy that the BMC was prompt enough to get their vehicle and carry away the waste.

Another resident, Bharat Nair, a member of the H west Federation, said that it is both the BMC and the citizens' fault. “The BMC doesn't act on our complaints. On the other hand, citizens keep their homes clean, but are not bothered what happens outside their homes,” Nair said.