‘Wells being reclaimed’

Shocking incidents of wells being reclaimed came to light at the Andheri meeting.

Activist Nicholas Almeida claimed that four wells sunk by the British were being filled by a private builder at Sahar village with the connivance of civic officials. According to Almeida, a mega residential project is taking shape at the site.

Almeida said the BMC was ignoring the possibility of using wells as an alternative source of water. Standing committee chairman Ravindra Waikar ordered strict action against officials responsible.

Renu Verma, a resident of Teli Gully in Andheri (East), claimed that the construction of a mall had claimed two wells in her area six months ago. “The water in these wells was clean and was being used,” she said.

Hydraulic department officials agreed that the development frenzy in the city has claimed several thousand wells in eight years, South Mumbai being the worst hit. But the water crisis has meant that more and more borewells and tubewells are being sunk. At least 2,065 have come up in the past eight years. Mumbai has 12,351 wells today.