Residents of Colaba puts politics to some local use

Residents of Colaba seem to be making good use of competitive politics to sort out civic issues. After complaining to their area corporator about the roadwork issues they are facing, they have approached opposition leaders hoping for some relief. 

The residents have been complaining about bad roads and pavements due to the repair work that has been in progress for a long time. However, there has been little respite. When the residents went to complain to the municipal commissioner, they also handed a letter to leader of opposition in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Ravi Raja. 

“We told the civic bosses about a series of problems we are facing. On that particular day, they had an engineer from BMC come and check the place and some workers were seen plugging away. However, for the past two days, we have not seen the workers, and now we are wondering if the remedial measure was a mere photo op. It is said people from this area are cranky about civic works, but can you blame us?” said Subash Motwani, president of Clean Heritage Colaba Residents Association (CHCRA), which addresses local issues. 

“We have been telling the local corporator for long to look into the issues, but in vain. The local MLA is just not concerned. So we have told the opposition leader in the BMC about our problem,” said Pervez Cooper, another resident. 

“The work that is being carried out is not good. Paver blocks are not up to the mark. There are both old and new blocks. This matter has been brought to the notice of the chief engineer concerned. I also informed them that one of the contractors assigned the work is a blacklisted one and the work should have been taken back from them. Work of storm water drains also seemed to be unnecessary from what people have told me,” said Ravi Raja, opposition leader in BMC. He added, “I will be visiting the area again.” 

Local corporator Sujata Sanap said, “I have done work there. The work they want is supposed to be done post-monsoon. How can we do it before that? If you ask around, people from other localities are happy with the work that is going on.”