Wadala corporator banks on slums

Even as the footpaths on Nana Fadanvis flyover are encroached upon, residents continue to cry hoarse about having to endanger their lives walking the sole road link connecting Wadala east and west during peak hours.

And, with the civic body gearing up for the polls, they hardly stand a chance of being heard, thanks to the alleged patronage of local corporator Hemant Doke.

Residents of ward number 173 have for long been complaining against the infringement of footpaths.

Speaking on the sidelines of DNA’s My Locality, My Voice campaign held on Sunday, a resident said: “Slums first mushroomed in Sahkar Nagar and spread on to the bridge.”

The councillor’s “affection” for the illegal occupants is to the extent that residents refer to the slums as ‘Hemant Doke Nagar’.

But, Doke alone is not at fault. Sanjay Randive, a local, said: “Representatives of all parties ensure that the slum dwellers get the best of the facilities, including proper water supply.

Sometimes the BMC cracks down on the shanties, but they soon return.”

While the number of voters from the slum could not be ascertained, Opposition parties, like MNS, claim that they form a sizeable vote-bank that ensures Doke’s win.

“The polling percentage in the ward of 32,000-33,000 voters has always been low. Of the total votes, at least 90% are polled by the slums. In the previous election, Doke won by a mere 150 votes,” said Anand Prabhu, MNS zonal head.

But, Doke said he does not “safeguard the slums”. Stating that he favoured their rehabilitation to free his “electorate” from inconvenience, Doke said, “I don’t get 100% voting from the slums. So, the claims that I am trying to secure my vote-bank are baseless.” But he did not specify when they will be rehabilitated.