Residents of Sector 8 are confined to their homes every evening, as the bad streetlights makes them fear attacks from antisocial elements along their approach roads
Simit Bhagat, Charkop
Following our report ‘Doomed to Darkness’ (issue dated May 4, 2007), residents of Charkop Sector 8 mailed us about a similar problem in their area as well. Their long-standing demand for having better streetlights has gone unheeded for months now.
Informs Arun Joshi, member of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose ALM, “There are more than 30 residential buildings in Charkop Sector No 8, but the streetlights that Reliance Energy Limited has installed serve no purpose at all, as the road continues to remain in darkness every evening.”
Adds resident Rekha Narvekar, “At night, it becomes extremely difficult to go this way. Moreover, antisocial elements take this chance to accost people in the dark. The increasing numbers of stray dogs in the area also adds to the fear of residents to go this pitch-dark road.”
Seconds resident M Shetty, “My college-going daughter is petrified to return home every evening, because of the hooligans that harass by indulging in eve-teasing. Since the road is dark, and has a vast mangroves stretch, these ruffians easily manage to run away after teasing the girls.” She continues, “After our repeated complaints for insufficient illumination in the area, Reliance officials did carry out a survey a few months ago. After the survey, they informed the ex-councillor Ramesh Medhekar that they needed to install lights of 150 watts, instead of the present 125 watts bulbs. However, no action has yet taken place to have the lights replaced, and the problem persists.
Repeated complaints to the BMC, local councillor have not yielded any results.”
It’s even worse for those residing on the adjoining approach road to Shiv Veer CHS; as there are no light-poles installed here, leave aside bulbs. Says Narvekar, “Since the time the area has developed, no light poles have been installed here. As there are no lights, we have to carry a torch to guide us on the road. Why should we suffer, when it’s the BMC’s duty to provide us with streetlights? Isn’t it part of basic infrastructure that they should provide?”
Comments Ashok Khaire, Assistant Municipal Commissioner, R/ South Ward, “The roads around these housing societies have not yet being handed over to the BMC by MHADA. Unless they do so, we will not be able to install light poles.”
The local corporator Sandhya Doshi (Ward No 17 Charkop North) agrees, “Most of the infrastructure such as sewerage system, roads etc are still under MHADA. Once they hand it over to the BMC, only then will BMC take over the development of the roads. Since MHADA has not been cooperating, the proposal is delayed.”
However, Arun Karande, MHADA’s Deputy Chief Engineer (Works) informs, “We have handed over the roads of Sector No 8 to the BMC a decade ago. But, the roads have not been in use since they fall under the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ), and the BMC has asked us to redevelop it before handing it over again. Now, we will be inviting tenders for development of the roads, after which the handover procedures should take around six months.”