Water Cuts In Mumbai Brings Big Time Business For Water Mafia

Afternoon Voice

Mumbai:- In a second day of water cut in which most of the suburbs including areas of Juhu, Bandra, Khar Santacruz, Vile Parle, JVPD is affected but unlike the areas of south central Mumbai where waters are available at a very cheap rate sold by the water Mafia’s. This water Mafia which is located in Signal Hill Avenue Road is using the water for free for last couple of years and are selling it too. Which is available for Rs 5 per barrel and Rs 50 for a drum which would be very cheap for residents of Juhu and Bandra who are using every drop of water in these three days of water cut by BMC.

Mostly slum dwellers those who are staying in the areas of Signal Hill Avenue Road, Boat Hard Road, Ray Road Station, Darukhana are indulged in the activities of either buying or selling water illegally for their daily use. And due to which the local residents of these places always face the problem of water shortage. More than 50 water pump which lies illegally was found in these areas with several agents who are responsible to sell these waters to the slum population of more than 2.5 lakhs.

  These slum dwellers who are migrants from UP, Bihar, Madras and Bengal are involved in this mass level of water smuggling under the nose of sewri police station which lies on the same signal Hill Road. “Also they are so aggressive that if we try to take any action against them will beat us to death” says a resident of Makani Chamber.

When AV visited the site of these Water Mafia was shock to see 2 inches water pipelines which is been illegally lying above the roof and is made of rubber which is spread across the area of BPT especially from Sewri to Wadala. While the numbers of these pipelines were not one or two it was in hundreds of numbers would make you realize that it is an electric cable meant for electric supply but it is made for water supply. These wate pipeline gets the water from the mainline of BPT which these Mafia cut and divert the line for their daily illegal business.

“This is a business of more than 50-60 lakhs a month and everyone has been give a fair share from the profit made out of it” informs Nasir Khan a resident of Makani Court. A source from BMC said that “Politicians and BMC too have turned their blind eye on it as it is a huge vote bank for them and if they try to disturb it will jeopardize their position”.

When AV spoke to the Mangesh Bansode the corporator of ward no-207 said “these water Mafia flourishes under the nose of Police in which senior officers of BPT have their hand in gloves with these water Mafia’s”.

When AV informed DCP Quaiser Khalid regarding the issue he stated that “It’s a property of BPT and they have never filed any complaint against it, if we are been given any written complaint will take appropriate action against the issue”