Open plot makes way for loo

Despite assuring Khar residents that no toilet would be constructed on a plot reserved for a playground in Khar (W), the minister of state for Food and Civil Supplies and MLA Baba Siddiqui seems to have gone back on his word.

Construction of a toilet for slum-dwellers from the footpath abutting the Janta Chawl is in full-swing on the ground. This is a violation of the Bombay High Court orders disallowing construction on a playground.

In an article published by DNA on January 16, Siddiqui had said, “No sane person would build a toilet on a playground.”

Members of the H (W) Citizen’s Trust, on February 9, approached the Khar police station, where they were shown a copy of the NOC issued to the deputy engineer of Mhada’s Mumbai Slum Improvement Board by BMC’s H (W) ward office.

“We have an NOC from the BMC and the toilet is a part of social service,” said Arvind Jadhav, a slum-dweller and Baudh Samaj committee member. Two toilet blocks are already in existence in the area and inside the chawl.

Govind Rathod, assistant municipal commissioner, H (W) ward office, on being asked about the NOC and the construction work, said, “We will not allow work on the ground till the plot is properly demarcated.”

Siddiqui said, “BMC has given an NOC to construct the toilet on the periphery of the slum. It is not on the playground.”