Will the impending monsoon turn Mumbai into a sickbay?

Every monsoon, despite the assurances and promises of the administration, cases of ailments afflicting city residents rise. Team Speak Up speaks to activists across the city, medical experts and BMC officials to find out if the city is rain-ready.

South Mumbai on alert
South Mumbai residents are gearing up to tackle the menace of monsoon-related diseases. Over the years, South Mumbai was relatively immune to the contagion of monsoon-related illnesses, but lately there has been a rise in the cases in places like Tardeo and Grant Road.

The main reason is that there has been an increase in the construction of skyscrapers and high-rises being built in the locality. “Precaution should begin at home and then around the environs. Families must ensure that they don't have stagnant water or even freshwater lying in their houses. We have spread the word to that effect,” Indrani Malkani, founder trustee and secretary of the Malabar Hill Residents' Association (MHRA).   

The citizens’ association is in constant touch with the civic administration. “Fogging is not the only solution, as it only kills the fully-grown mosquitoes. Continuous oil treatment in the drains as well as the stagnant water is a good solution as it kills the mosquito larvae,” added Malkani.

If there are construction of apartment blocks happening in the vicinity, residents ensure that there is no stagnant water around the area as it may give birth to mosquito-borne diseases.

Docs sound alarm
With the advent of the monsoon, the city resembles a sickbay. The doctors in the city blame the rise in monsoon-related ailments on the callousness of the civic administration. “On a larger level, civic bodies and state agencies have to make sure that the city is safe and not a breeding ground for diseases,” says Dr Shalini Suralkar, general physician, Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital.

The city has developed over the years and has seen an increase in the number of apartment blocks. This haphazard development, has lead to overcrowding, flooding, lack of drainage and sewage facilities.

Flooding, over a long period of time, has resulted in several areas becoming breeding ground for mosquitoes. General physicians also say that the general hygiene and cleanliness standards in the city have fallen.

“Usage of water supplied by tankers can give some people rash. Consumption of such water if not boiled can lead to ailments,” said Dr Khusrav Bajan, head of general medicine at Hinduja Hospital.

Suburbs take guard
With the first monsoons, large parts of the western suburbs are hit due to monsoon related ailments. The reason is that while there is large scale construction activity going on places like Borivali, Kandivali Bandra, Khar and Santacruz.

Due to the construction of the Metro Rail project, large parts of Andheri have been excavated. Moreover there are several open drains and nullahs in many areas.
Locals are gearing up to tackle the problem. “We have had regular meetings with the ward officials to ensure that the stormwater drains are cleaned on time,” said Robin Viegas, member of the Kalina Citizens' Forum.         

In response to the outbreak of monsoon related aliments last year, the civic administration has beefed up efforts in areas like Khar and Bandra. They have undertaken fumigation and cleaning of stormwater drains in the locality. In Khar residents have tied up with the Pest Control of India (PCI) to control breeding of larvae in the area.

Architect Vijay Dalvi, who resides on JP road Andheri West says “Pipelines and sewage lines have been broken. They must be fixed and dirty water must not be allowed to enter water pipelines.”

BMC in action
After taking flak from several quarters about its lackadaisical attitude in averting water-borne epidemics. The civic administration is pulling up its socks. This year, the BMC is bracing up to tackle the contagion. For this purpose, they have equipped all the health centres in the city with required medicines and drugs. “We are conducting an awareness campaign through press and television programmes to reach out to maximum people. We have emphasised that people use boiled water for drinking,” Subhada Gudekar, chairperson of the BMC's health committee. 

Besides these measures, the BMC is working to clean the stormwater drain system. It is also plugging leakages at various places in water pipelines. “The water-borne diseases basically spread when contaminated water reaches to the houses. This contamination happens due to leakages in supply water lines. So the BMC is concentrating more on ensuring that there are no leakages in supply pipelines,” said Rakhi Jhadav, Vikhroli-based corporator.

Shyama Kulkarni. H -West Ward Citizens' Trust
We have conducted meetings with the ward officials regarding the cleaning of drains. Residents will monitor the work when it's going on, so that it is accomplished as per requirement.” 

KR Puri. President, Cuffe Parade Residents' Association
We have already asked the BMC to come and spray the fumigants. We have also asked workers to clean the water in the overhead tanks. We only hope this will mitigate the spread of diseases and larvae growth.”

Dr.Viral Patrawala. Gastroenterologist
The main reason for increase in rain-related diseases is mixing of sewage and drinking water. Areas where water can stagnate should be filled, to reduce mosquito breeding.”

Nitin Gadekar. Member, Khar Residents' Assoc
We have tied up with a pest control agency to get all the buildings fumigated. Drains on the 17th Road are in a bad shape and they need fumigation. Otherwise this year the  administration has done a great job.”

Dr Sandhya Kamat. Dean, Sion Hospital
Local residents  should contact the BMC ward officer of the area and get the locality fumigated so that breeding of mosquitoes is reduced.”

Jairaj Thanekar. Executive Health Officer, BMC
We are concerned with the health of the people. We have taken all the measures to curb expected monsoon-related diseases. We are also giving all required information to people through the media.”