Residents between Bandra and Vile Parle decide to boycott the water tanker lobby, make do with stored bucket water instead.
The second day of 100% water cut on Tuesday affected Bandra, Khar, Santa Cruz, Vile Parle, JVPD, Bandra Kurla Complex, Marol, Tardeo, Girgaum and Kalbadevi, but unlike their South Mumbai counterparts, residents in the western suburbs refused to bow to the tanker lobby.
Residential and housing co-operative societies in the suburbs pledged to say no to water tankers and survived the day with stored bucket water.
However, not all participated in the campaign, and water tankers were seen outside a few bungalows in the suburbs, including one outside the residence of Bollywood star Amitabh Bachhan.
“The water fetched by tankers is unfit for consumption. It causes itching and triggers skin irritation. Also, during water cuts, the cost of water tankers shoots up to exploit people. The residents thus chose to manage without them and use every drop judiciously,” said Aftab Siddiqui, a Bandra resident and member of the H-West Ward Federation.
Neera Sehgal, member of Dr Ambedkar Road ALM (Advance Locality Management), said the water shortage was tackled by residents by storing water in buckets to carry out daily chores.
Similar efforts were undertaken by Juhu residents who used the internet to spread the message of water conservation. “With the help of our MLA Ashok Jadhav, bulk SMSes were sent to every resident. Emails and messages through Facebook and other social networking sites were also passed on,” said Sherley Singh, honorary secretary of Juhu Scheme Residents Association.
The residents were supportive of the repair work undertaken by the civic body. “This is the right time to carry out repairs. We appreciate that the civic body has started the work in winter instead of summer,” Siddiqui said.
Hydraulic department chief Vinay Despande said the pace of work is satisfactory and will be completed as per schedule. Water supply was restored in parts of South Mumbai and others areas which faced a water cut on Monday.
On Wednesday, water supply will be affected in Cuffe Parade, Colaba, Nariman Point, Backbay Reclamation, Fort, Churchgate, Malabar Hill and Peddar Road, along with Vile Parle, Jogeshwari and Goregaon.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}