An Underground College

Afternoon Voice

Mumbai:- An educational fraud which is been flourishing since last few years in Trombay Cheetah camp on the basis of which NESWAT (National Educational Social Welfare Aid Trust) is running their college on Government land alleges Ayyb Khan a social activist. In a file of documents provided to AV by Ayyub Khan which shows an amount of corruption and forgery on the basis of which the NESWAT junior college was formed. NESWAT Junior College which was founded in the year 2008 and according to the RTI documents, its layout plan shows it consist 8 classrooms, an office , a library, computer rooms and three toilets. Whereas it’s not true the Junior College runned in cheetah camp is just formed in a space of 21x30sq.ft. In this college about 80 students take admission in arts as well as commerce every year and this junior college consist of only two classrooms with no other such facilities shown in the RTI documents. “The trust and other authorize persons are earning huge amount every year, by showing these false and forged documents by the governments as well as from donors” said Ayyub.

Also the college premises which is located in front of MGR Road is located on Government land (according to the documents), whereas the trust has shown it as a Municipal Land. Also NESWAT has shown its classrooms located in place of Trombay Public High School.

Moreover the Survey Copy provided to AV showed an agreement of 1995, that Sr.No-859 and Sr.No-837 on which the NESWAT School is constructed does not exist on the Survey Copy of Cheetah Camp.

While accusing the secretary and the trustees of NESWAT, Ayyub Khan said to AV that “whenever I have asked to the school to show the original documents, then the college administration has replied him verbally saying that their paper were damaged completely after 26^th July rain and they do not have their original documents” further he added that “I have been approaching many education department since last several years but no action has been taken from their side”.

A local resident whose son is studying in this college informed AV on the condition of anonymity that “generally students who take admissions in NESWAT junior college have scored less numbers in their SSC and anyone can get admission easily after scoring 40-45% as there are no such demand for admission”. There is a regular visit of Inspectors from education department but they are been bribed heavily to keep their mouth shut alleges Ayyub.

When AV spoke to Mubarak Ali Khan President of NESWAT he refused to comment on the issue. When AV asked Shiv Sagar Assistant Municipal Commissioner of M-East ward about the issue said “we will take appropriate action against the issue as soon as possible”.

4 Deceased BMC Workers Received Their Salary After Their Death

Afternoon Voice

AV has come across a big fraud done in the name of Dattak Basti Yojana an initiation taken by MCGM to keep slum areas clean. A shocking scam which took place from last 9 years since 2001 when Dattak Basti Yojana started was that MCGM was paying for last 9 years to those who died even before these plans were implemented. Prakash Ghag and Shridhar Chavan were dead before this scheme started also Mahesh More and Milind Tambe died in the year 2006 but their every month wages and their present is been always marked in the roster. The main question arises that who is responsible to take the salary of deceased peoples. Neither their family got any of these amounts nor do they no they were been enrolled for such works of cleaning the area. Also in which Ganesh Chawan and Babu Chondekar were not aware that they are been enrolled for such work neither do they receive Rs4070 per month as per the norms of MCGM. These money is been collected by Private Organisation who is responsible to take care of the wages. And one such organization Subangi Mahila Audogik Sanstha which is been taken care by the family of Subangi Shirke of ward no 122 are behind these frauds says Vilas R Chavan an RTI activist.

Also BMC has adopted 11 public toilets in ward no-122 which will charge Rs10 per family but this organization of Subangi Shirke use to take Rs50 per family. Hence the amount of scam with this format becomes 60 Lakhs in 24 months, with respect to the calculation of 6248 families using these toilets.

Other than this number of documents and RTI given to AV by Akhtar Shaikh an MNS leader of Govandi which showed a mojor difference in the number of labours allotted by the MCGM and M-East Ward. In a given RTI of M-east ward the sum of labours appointed for ward no 129,130,131,132,133 are 273 whereas the data of BMC states that the number of labors allotted by the BMC is 198 in numbers. In which there are 75 labours are missing and no record have been found in BMC office. Though the salary of these 75 labours who are not on the list of BMC are been taken every months in cash which is upto 36 lakhs a year in these 6 words only. “Out of these 198 labours not even half are seen working on the street” Akhtar Shaikh also he added that “If we calculate the fraud in whole 220 wards where these yojanas are active it will be a biggest BMC scam in last 20 years”. MCGM allots Private NGO’s who are into social activities for atleast 2 years and can hire labours by providing their details. “Though this type of fraud is possible because the wages are been paid in cash to these labours and hence it is easier for these organizations to continue getting a monthly handsome amount even after their death or their absence” says a retired BMC Engineer.

When AV contacted Mangesh Sangle MLA of MNS said that “We find it difficult too as these workers of Dattak Basti Yojana are not doing their work and amounts in Crore’s are been paid to them” also he added that “these types of plans are been made to fulfill the corrupt need of corporators of Mumbai”. Asma Shaikh Corporator of Ward No-132 was unavailable to give her comment. 

When AV asked Vilas R Chavan about why this fraud is been nourishing since last 9 years he replied that “These organizations are runned by Corporators and Ex-Corporators of their respective ward and are been paid blindly by the BMC without any vigilance or audit set on these organizations” further he stated that “I request for a CBI inquiry held on every ward where we can find how much fraud is going on in each ward in the name of this yojana”

Policemen Wife Formed Union To Fight For Their Husband's Rights

Afternoon Voice

Mumbai Police is not able to for any union by law so this task is taken up their wife’s to fight for their husbands cause. Around 4900 policeman’s wives are enrolled in this unioun named Police Patni Mahila Sangathan, headed by BJP leader Sunil Rane.

This organization has police wives from Worli and Naigaon Police colony in BDD Chawl is fighting for various issues which policeman faces. Their basic demand is to give the ownership of the police quarters in which they are presently residing. They are also demanding that one of the police son should get reservation or some concession in police recruitment.

According to Deepak Patil an active member of this organization said that “as per 1994 Government Resolution many government employees including PWD, Social Welfare Department Employees got ownership of their official residents then why are Policeman’s not given this facility, when policeman work day and night for the cities safety” he also added that “the family of policeman is staying in very pathetic condition wherein their buildings are 80 years old and is in a dilapidated condition and no one is concerned about it”.

BDD Chawl’s have 160 sq.ft rooms and it is very difficult for a family to accommodate in it. They are under severe tension if some guest comes to their place. Policeman pay Rs 4,500 as rent for this space but don’t get basic facilities like clean and hygienic premises. Whereas other people staying in these chawls get PWD’s cleaning staff twice a day while they pay only Rs17 as rent (But they are owner of that property). One of the wife of Policeman Havsabai Katkade said “We live in a condition which is worst then slum and no one from our department is taking note of it” further she added that “Our husband’s are not allowed to form a union or raise their problems, so we have decided to form an organization on their behalf and fight for our cause”. Another wife of a constable said that “why are we not getting the ownership of our official residents when many other government employees got the ownership in the same locality”.

Many of the families here are staying for more than 30 years and are paying the rent for the same. Some of these families think that they could have got their own house paying EMI instead of paying rent for this house in BDD Chawl. One of the resident added that “we are paying rent for this 160 sq.ft room for 30 years but when my husband will retire the police department will throw us out of this colony” said Radha Kale. Some places where two policemen are staying in same room, the deduction of rent is done from both of their salaries.

Police Patni Mahila Sangathan is planning to protest in Azad Maidan if their demand is not fulfilled and they are also planning for a grandt dharna outside Vidhan Bhawan during this budget session of Maharashtra Assembly. They have also held a meeting with leader of opposition Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Mr Eknath Khadse and he has assured to raise their questions in this session.

Radioactive Govandi

Afternoon Voice

Fear of radiation due to illegal mobile network towers has left them jittery

According to the residents of Govandi’s Shivaji Nagar and Baigan Wadi, they are living in an environment that is radioactively charged. The notion comes from the excess of mobile network towers that have been installed in their respective localities.

Commenting on the issue, Akhtar Shaikh, a Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader said, “There are almost 32 Mobile towers in these areas, installed on the terraces of G+1 structures and each and every tower is illegal.” Stating that his accusations were not baseless, Akhtar produced a document, issued by the BMC’s Building and Proposal department (October, 30, 2010), which clearly stated that only four towers were cleared by the department. “If so, then why do these areas have 32 towers?” questioned Akhtar. 

He added, “According to the Pollution Control department, a mobile tower should be at least three metres away from any residential area, hospital, schools and narrow lanes. However, all these norms have been royally flouted in Shivaji Nagar and Baigan Wadi. While some of the towers are located almost next to the Shivaji Nagar Municipal School 1 & 2, others are exactly opposite the Shivaji Nagar Municipal Hospital. These towers are hazardous, as they are constantly emitting radioactive waves.”

Accusing the locals who have allowed the service providers to install network towers on their terraces, Ishaque Khan a retired school teacher, said, “Since it fetches huge money, residents allow private companies to install these harmful towers on their rooftops. This they do it by conniving with the BMC officials.” 

“These private companies pay anywhere between Rs.3 to Rs.3.5 lakh a year to the slum dwellers for allowing them to install towers. For those, who find it difficult to even live hand-to-mouth, the money offered is nothing less than a treasure. Hence, without even considering the ill effects, people blindly accept the offer.” 

For the past two years, Akhtar has been fighting against this illegal installation of network towers, but to no avail. “Whenever I approach the BMC officials, they make me run from one department to another. If this is the scenario, how can a common man fight illegalities?” he questioned.

When contacted, Devidas Ksheersagar, AMC of M-Ward 132, remained unavailable for comment. Explaining the hazards of radiation, a cancer specialist, said, “The harmful effects of radiation are numerous – for example cancer and brain tumour. Radiation can cause miscarriage, disrupt pacemaker’s functioning or can even induce insomnia.“

A New Look Of Churchgate Station

Afternoon Voice

Mumbai:- Exterior work has been statrted of Churchgate Station where more than 3.3 lakh people either come or go daily. Using latest technology and state of art technique the look of Churchgate station will change within few months. The 53 year old building is surrounded by heritage structures and is only building which do not posess any promising exterior. 
"After the rennovation work is over the building could be compared with one of Bandra Kurla Complexes building" says G N K David the PRO of Western Railway. Also the work to cover shade all platform has been started to start 15 coach train as well. Though the work at platform number 3 and 4 is about to complete to accomadate 15 car rail but the work of platform 1 and 2 is not started yet. In which aluminium composite channels of blue and silver color are used informed David. "Though the work was quite difficult as we were not able to use heavy duty craines so the work has gone longer as per our schedule" said David.
The surface of platform 1 is raised after working for 44 nights due to which senior citizens and female passengers will find it easier to catch a train and to climb out of it. After a budget of 5.47 Crores these work will be completed by the end of April at the latest. "Though the work many time gets slow as we do not disturb the regular traffic which is a big challenge for us" said Ajay Solanki Chief Public Relation Inspector WR. 
Either coming from their work or leaving their office there are several problems still passengers come across daily when they arrive at churchgate station. "Toilets are never found clean inside the building of churchgate station" says Abhijeet Yadav a student of KC College, "also there is a matter of cleanliness among the station itself as we never found it clean and healthy" he added. Also an employee of Kuwait Embassy Imran Shaikh said that "we need a safe journey where we can come in daily to our workplace comfartably", also he added "that the number of trains should be increased during rush hours".  

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”  

No Space For Kohli's In Mumbai

Afternoon Voice

The Kohli and Aagri fisherman’s are upset with the actions taken by the BMC every month to evacuate the stall to make a free moving road under the upcoming metro station alleges the stall owners. Very few people of today’s generation are aware about the fact that the Kohli samaj is the first community of India’s economic capital Mumbai but after protecting their work place for last ten years there voices are unheard yet.

The kohli’s and the Aagri’s who are selling their fish for last 35 years in Asalpha village near Ghatkopar are worried about their children’s future because of the regular action taken by the BMC to evacuate these stalls. By this 32 stall more than 350 lives are dependent on it as well as these stalls are only one which supplies fishes everyday to whole Asalpha residents. In a document given to AV by these fisherman’s of PWD dated-15-07-2000, which stated that PWD has given these stall owner’s a permission to align a stall at Andheri-Kurla link road of 160ft in length and 6ft in width. Also the PWD letter of year 2000 stated that Maharashtra Government and the BMC will replace them somewhere else, on the basis of which these stall owners are fighting.

Also these fishermen accuse Khanna Society which is just behind their stall for not co-operating with them and filing regular complaints Police and BMC against their stalls. Though these stalls lie just opposite to the constructed pillars of Metro from where Metro train will move one day when the work is over. Vinod Nishad who is fighting for these stalls accuses MMRDA for not co-operating and not providing anything in written as he said “senior officials have verbally promised us to provide stalls under the shade of metro but they have never given this on written”. “After these promises made by MMRDA, BMC with the help of Police and on the basis of complaints made by Khanna Apartment comes with bulldozers to demolish our forefathers business” said Vinod.

After writing several letters to BMC, Ministry and Fishing Community these Fishermen’s are still waiting for a positive response but many fishermen’s believe that they have turned their eye from them. A senior member of the kohli family Motiram Mhatre stated the reason due to which their problem is being ignored is the line which divides their constituencies. Which means that the area where they work and where they live is just a few meters away but the constituencies of Corporation’s, MLA’s and even MP’s are divided between these lines due to which they are stuck between the vote bank policies. Motiram said that even if their Corporator or MLA will helps us their vote will go to someone else which has become the main reason of negligence.

When AV contacted Harish Chandan Shukla corporator of ward-123 he said “that PWD has promised them to allot a space they should approach MMRDA for that” when asked about the regular threat of demolition he stated that “I am not the one who is interested in throwing up these stalls, after all they are working there since last 35 years and I am always there to stop BMC whenever they are demolishing these stalls”. When AV tried to contact Arif Naseem Khan MLA of Kurla was unavailable for his comment.