While Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) continued its demolition drive in Garib Nagar in Bandra East on Tuesday, the civic body has not even started construction of a mandatory wall along the Tansa pipeline in Marol in Andheri East where it had demolished around 1,500 illegal shanties about five months ago. Now, encroachments have started cropping up again.
The K-East ward of BMC that consists of Andheri (East), including Marol, had carried out the drive in Great Indira Nagar in Marol in May-end, following Bombay High Court's 2009 order which directed removal of illegal encroachments falling within 10 metres on both side of Tansa pipeline. The order was given to prevent water theft and leaks. BMC had removed encroachment at around 400 to 500 long stretch of the pipeline.
As per the court order, the civic body has to construct a wall on both sides of the pipeline after removing the shanties. However, even after 5 months, the civic body has not done so.
Now, encroachments have again started coming up. Residents in the area have complained that after demolition, the area along the pipeline is frequently used as a garbage dumping ground. "Apart from garbage being dumped, nullah water is also accumulating, raising the risk of transmitting diseases," said Amar Murya, resident of Great Indira Nagar, Marol.
Another resident said that if the civic body leaves the area after demolition in the same condition, chances of encroachment are high.
A senior official from the water hydraulic department of BMC said they have floated the tender to construct the wall. "The demolition was carried out just before the monsoon and during monsoon we cannot carry out any civic work," said the official, adding that they will soon complete the tender process.
The 39-km long Tansa water pipeline is in two parts — first from Mulund to Dharavi, and the second from Ghatkopar to Sion. The pipeline crossed 10 administrative wards of BMC and fall in Mulund, Bhandup, Sahar, Wakola, Hussein Hill, Khar East, Mahim, Dharavi, Ghatkopar, Kurla East, and Anda Depot.
As per data available with BMC's water hydraulic department, of the total 16,409 unauthorised structures, ward offices have demolished around 8,000.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "BMC")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}