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Don’t test tolerance of citizens, HC warns BMC
Upset at the BMC’s inability to give citizens of Mumbai the assurance of clean water and air, the Bombay High Court on Thursday said, “Hygienic conditions should not be a casual matter and the tolerance of people should not be tested to the extent that they get filthy water.”
The court’s remarks came while hearing a petition filed by Siddharth Khandagale from Worli after two pregnant women, Vrushali Pawar (26) and Kavita Aitala (23), died allegedly of illnesses caused by drinking contaminated water in an SRA society on E Moses Road in Worli.
Justice P B Majmudar said the sea- fronts at Worli and Haji-Ali gave out a “filthy smell”. “People should not be made to live like animals,” Justice Majmudar added.
After hearing the PIL earlier this month, the court had sought an affidavit from the BMC listing the action taken. “Two people have lost their lives. Can you (BMC) tell us how they died?” the court asked. BMC counsel said the society premises were private and its residents also had a responsibility of maintaining hygienic conditions. “Someone has played mischief and diverted the water connection given by the BMC to the suction tanks of the three SRA buildings,” the counsel said.
An affidavit by Satyanarayan Maheshwari, deputy hydraulic engineer (City), submitted to the court stated that the water connection was given by the corporation on “humanitarian grounds” in the general washing place of the SRA complex but was illegally diverted. “Then you should prosecute those who are doing this,” the court said. The affidavit said BMC collected water samples for testing on receipt of complaints.
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