Mumbai in distress: Water, garbage issues on rise

Mumbai: Water supply, solid waste management and pollution related complaints have increased drastically in the last two years in Mumbai, according to a latest report by Praja Foundation.

While Mumbai saw an increase in complaints of water supply by a whopping 82 per cent between 2017 and 2018, the complaints to the garden department and solid waste management (SWM) department witnessed a rise of 59 and 43 per cent in the same period.

As such, the NGO has urged the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to look into the issue of sanitation and cleaner environment in Mumbai.  

The NGO further highlighted that in terms of SWM, the issues plaguing citizens included lack of timely facilities like garbage collection, removal of debris, lifting of fallen trees and replacement of dustbins among others.

Similarly, for water supply, the issues were mostly related to the shortage in the supply, leaks in pipelines, unauthorised tapping of water connection and contaminated water. “The BMC has overlooked the environmental issues of Mumbai. The complaints for garbage collection from homes, lanes and markets have increased by 145 per cent since 2016,” said Rahul Kulkarni, Project Officer, Praja Foundation.

The complaints to garden department included permission for cutting trees (644) and trimming of branches (1,876) among others.   The report also stated that complaints related to ‘Drainage issues’ (15,940 in 2017 and 20,641 in 2018) is the most frequently complained about issue in 2017 and 2018. It constitutes almost one-fifth (18 per cent) of all complaints.    

The report also analysed the performance of elected representatives.

“Despite a decrease in attendance of councillors in ward committee meetings, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai’s (MCGM) councillors asked 1,046 questions in committee meetings, a 22 per cent increase from year 2017. They also conducted more meetings in 2018 (a 16 per cent increase from 2017), which suggests that our elected representatives are holding more meetings to ask more questions to the administration.

However, the number of councillors asking no question is still a staggering 31 councillors adding to the disappointment of the citizens,” said Milind Mhaske, Director at Praja Foundation.