The residents of a housing society in Mulund (East) have started a campaign called ‘Take me out of the cage’ to protest against open gutters, manholes left partially open, and the dumping of garbage at their gates for the past five years.
Fed up with the callous attitude of civic authorities and elected representatives, the campaign was launched on October 2 by 2,500 residents of Nirmal Lifestyle Residency, the housing society with nine buildings comprising of 630 flats.
Ashish Goyal, a resident, said, “The housing society has three entry gates. There is a heap of garbage in front of the southern gate, two large open gutters and partially open manholes dot both sides of the gate opening into LBS road and partially open construction nets cover the footpaths outside the third gate. It has become dangerous to step out of our homes.”
Rajesh Singh, secretary, Nirmal Lifestyle Residency, said: “We have been facing garbage woes from the day we occupied the flats. The authorities have been ignoring the problem as our society lies on the border between S and T wards. When we raise questions they point fingers at each other.”
However, Kishor Gandhi, Additional Municipal Commissioner, T ward, said: “BMC had installed a machine to segregate waste and disposes of wet waste in 2012, but trash overflows from the machine. We will ensure that the area is cleared of garbage within the next two days.”
While Mr. Gandhi claimed that the issue of open manholes had never been brought to his notice, residents produced letters they had written to the T ward office highlighting the issue. Residents said people have been dumping garbage in open spaces as the machine has been non-functional for the past few months. The residents also alleged that the building’s compound wall collapsed twice as garbage was heaped up against the wall.
Mr. Singh said owing to piled up garbage, stray dogs and pigs are creating a menace in the neighbourhood. Mr. Singh said, “About 20 residents have suffered dog bites so far. It has become difficult to step out for morning walks due to fear of dog attacks.”
Residents said the situation worsened during the monsoon as the area around the building became waterlogged. “The open gutters add to the problem as many children and residents fall sick to monsoon diseases,” a resident said.
Neil Somaiya, Mulund municipal corporator, has called for a meeting with residents on October 8.
