Shanty holds up Nerul drain work

Veda Ramaswamy, Nerul

May 14, 2011 - DNA Navi Mumbai

The commendable construction work to improve the RCC storm water drains undertaken by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) to ensure freedom from flooding during monsoon has faced a hurdle in the event of its completion. The construction work being carried out near the Ayyappa temple in sector 17, Nerul has been held up since last one month. The existence of an illegal shanty on the footpath under which the construction work has to be carried out is being cited by the residents as the reason for the delay.

“The work of constructing water pipelines undertaken by the NMMC to prevent water logging in monsoon is praiseworthy but the work has been stalled for the last one month due to presence of an illegal shanty on the footpath. An old man is seen there at times who claims the structure to be a shrine but no rituals are being performed as per the tradition,” said a Nerul resident on condition of anonymity. The shanty which is situated just besides the temple is covered with plastic sheets on three sides and a roof with a collapsible door painted with red oxide to give an impression of a religious shrine.

Apart from being a barrier in the completion of the work, the hut is also causing a hindrance to the pedestrians as it is located on a footpath. The presence of Sri Shaneeshwara temple and Sri Ayyappa temple near the site also causes a lot of vehicular traffic as devotees swarm to visit the holy place of worship regularly. “Since there is no space to walk on the road due to the heavy traffic, we are solely dependent on the footpath for our safe movement,” said Shivangi Thakur, a resident of Nerul.

“Only 4 to 7 feet of the construction of pipeline is remaining. That is the part which is underneath the shanty. And it can be completed only after the structure is demolished. I have sent two letters to the NMMC in the last fortnight requesting them to take action against the structure,” said another local resident who does not wish to be named.

The work to improve the storm water drainage system in Navi Mumbai was initiated by the NMMC since the torrential rainfall in 2005 and 2007 had caused heavy loss of property to the citizens and then the existing drainage system was not enough to face such calamities. “We have not been informed of any such shanty that is obstructing the ongoing process of improving the drainage system. If and when we are alerted about it, we would take the necessary actions. All I can assure you is that the work will be completed before the arrival of monsoon,” NMMC executive engineer Arvind Shinde said.