Lakhs of litres of water lost due to leaky Aarey line

Jogeshwari-Dahisar residents suffer 30 pc water cuts compared to 15 per cent for rest of city due to leakages in Aarey Colony pipeline

Geeta Desai

     

Posted On Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 02:49:58 AM

Simply put, this is an insult to Mumbaikars’ struggle for water. For the past three years, lakhs of litres of water, largely meant for residents of Jogeshwari-Dahisar belt, is going down the drains.  The reason is a 50-year-old pipeline’s portion in Aarey Milk Colony is leaking from several places, resulting in a daily windfall for water thieves and the slumdwellers near the colony. Some locals even tamper with the damaged portion, worsening the problem.  BMC has set aside Rs 20 crore to replace the 50-yr-old pipeline near Aarey Colony Geeta Desai On the other hand, residents in the Jogeshwari-Dahisar belt face 30 per cent water cut, compared to 15 per cent faced by the rest of the city.  The BMC has already termed the damaged portion “irreparable,” and yet, this year alone, it had to spend Rs 2 crore to salvage the three-km pipeline stretch. The BMC has set aside Rs 20 crore to replace the pipeline but, because of a dispute with the Dairy Development Department (DDD), the problem has not been rectified. The bone of contention is the road toll money the DDD will lose out on if the pipeline portion replacement work begins, as the private road inside Aarey Colony will have to be shut. Dinesh Dondalia, deputy municipal corporation, BMC said the DDD will have to take a call. He said, “We have submitted the replacement plans as the portion of the pipeline is beyond repair.”  The repair has been delayed due to a dispute  between the BMC and the Dairy Development Department The Dairy Development Department commissioner, R D Shinde, said his department is doing everything possible to settle the issue. He said, “I am aware of the delay in pipeline replacement. A meeting has been scheduled with the  engineers and the file will be processed soon.” Local corporator and MLA Ravindra Waikar had received money for the pipeline replacement a long time ago, but that amount lapsed as work could not start. He said, “It’s not fair that residents of Jogeshwari-Dahisar belt should continue to suffer water shortage because of pipeline problem. I will ensure justice is done.”