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Mumbai: Steep rise in price of water after BMC imposes 20% water cut

Rais Shaikh, Leader of Samajwadi Party in the BMC said that Govandi, Mankhurd and surrounding areas are the hotbed for such activity.

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Just as the BMC has imposed 20 per cent water cut, tanker mafias have started calling shots in the far-end areas across the city. The steep rise in price of water from illegal slums is because BMC has not given legal connections are slum dwellers at mercy of water mafias. Even large residential societies in far-end areas have to pay through the nose for water tankers.

"One drum of 20 litres to 50 litres is sold at anywhere between Rs 40 - Rs. 200 until now but given the shortage water is being charged double right now. Large and posh residential societies are charged even more. Tankers cost anywhere between Rs. 1800 - Rs. 2000 and sometimes rhey are even charged five-folds", said a source.

"Areas like Ambuj wadi, Azmi Nagar, Rathodi Village, Malvani Church Village, Chikuwadi are always facing water cut, no matter what. Plumbers giving illegal connections and water mafias are always scouting for such situations. They take illegal connection and use motor to pull water even when the pressure is low this sucks all the turbidity and contamination and we have to bear the brunt", said Noella Varela, civic activist from Malavani Malad.

Rais Shaikh, Leader of Samajwadi Party in the BMC said that Govandi, Mankhurd and surrounding areas are the hotbed for such activity. The fact that slums post 2005 are not given water is such a sham as all of them do get water. By what means and how is open secret. Then why cannot BMC find a way to provide basic right of people. They buy water out of no choice and water mafias make the most", said Shaikh adding that while legal water connection is done in Rs. 8000 - 9000 the cartel of plumbers conniving with water department of the BMC charges Rs. 25000 and even more if they find people desperate.

Vinod Shekhar, ex Congress corporator from Colaba said that it is ridiculous that BMC has not forseen such situation. I have time and again raised the issue of rain water harvesting in the city but BMC has just not bothered to create alternative source of water. People in slums like Geeta Nagar and Ambedkar Nagar are victimised by the system and are subjected to pay up is they want even one bucket of water. Forget about the hygiene part", said Shekhar.

While civic administration claims that there are only 500 tankers in the city and not all far end areas can ve covered by the BMC, civic body will have to tackle the issue in different ways if situation worsens.

Standing Committee chairman Yashodhar Phanse has demanded that in wake of water shortage in the city and 20 % water cut, BMC should stop water supply to all the construction sites in wake of water shortage. Phanse has written a letter to Sanjay Mukherjee, Additional Municipal Commissioner and have asked to impose the directions soon so that citizens are relieved.

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