mumbai
Santacruz
Mumbai, Monday, June 24, 2024
RAINY SEASON WOES | Ghatkopar’s Railway Police Colony, built in 1980, has been plagued by
leaks and crumbling infrastructure; the dilapidated buildings have been in disrepair for years
GRP’s leaking homes pose a threat
Spikes, designated parking to resolve Bandra’s traffic woes
Locals take up the issue of vehicular congestion with JCP (Traffic); FPJ recently reported about the problems
Dhairya Gajara
MUMBAI
Reeling under increasing traf-
fic woes, which have been
highlighted by the Free Press
Journal several times, the
Bandra residents on Sunday
met Joint Commissioner of Po-
lice (JCP, Traffic) Anil Kumb-
hare to find a way out. The
high-ranking cop assured
them that the traffic police
along with the BMC will take
several measures to address
their problems.
Accompanied by the
‘Managing committee must trim trees
before monsoon with BMC permission’
Q. There are many trees in
my society. Last week a
branch fell on my car on a
rainy day. The car is dam-
aged with a dent on the
roof. The mirror is broken.
Can I make the society li-
able to make good the loss
as the same is not going to
be covered in my insurance
policy?
— Grishma Semwal, Mahim
A. The managing committee
will be held responsible for
not trimming the trees with
prior permission of the BMC
before the monsoon. As per
Bye Law 155, it is the respon-
sibility of the managing
committee to upkeep and
maintain the society prem-
ises and to observe govern-
ment directive issued from
time to time. This includes
the trimming and cutting of
trees endangering the life
and property of the inmates
of the society.
As a precautionary
measure, the BMC issues
notices to the societies to
trim the trees before the
monsoon. Many people have
lost their life due to falling of
trees during heavy rains.
Individual members are
not allowed to destroy,
damage, deface or cut the
trees in the compound of the
society. You may take up this
matter with the general
body. The general body can
initiate appropriate action
against the office-bearers or
committee member/s. The
loss caused to you may be
recovered from the
individual members of the
committee and not from the
society.
members of Bandra One
group, the locals held a dis-
cussion with Kumbhare at Hill
Road. The residents raised the
issues of illegal parking, viol-
ation of no-entry and one-
ways, lack of odd-even day
parking rule and congestion in
cafe areas which attract scores
of patrons. They pointed out
the chronic spots like Almeida
Park Road, Bazaar Road, Wa-
roda Road, Roque Road, St
Cyril’s Road and St Leo Road.
The residents recom-
mended installation of rein-
forced spikes to control illegal
Housing Society
Queries
Sharmila Ranade
You can also consider
filing a complaint with the
advisory complaints
committee (if constituted)
against the office-bearers
and other managing
committee member/s for not
complying with the
directives in this regard.
You may choose to include
cover for natural calamities
in your car insurance policy
to avoid such losses in future.
Q. The erstwhile managing
committee was ousted and
a new committee was con-
stituted. The members of
the erstwhile committee
keep interfering with the
work of the new managing
committee by raising un-
necessary issues, instigat-
ing and creating confusion
among other members of
the society. How can we
stop the interference of
such members?
— Satyendra Savarde, Nahur
A. It looks like the members
of the erstwhile managing
committee have some
grudges against the newly
Rucha Kanolkar
MUMBAI
Ghatkopar’s Railway Police
Colony, once a modest abode
for over 500 families, has be-
come a deathtrap in the mak-
ing. The dilapidated buildings,
which have been in disrepair
for years, are now a cause for
concern, especially during the
monsoon season. Every resi-
dent is on edge, fearing the
worst as water seeps into their
homes and staircases crumble
underfoot.
The colony, built in 1980, has
been plagued by leaks and
crumbling infrastructure. A
recent incident where a mass-
ive billboard collapsed on an
adjacent petrol pump, killing
17 people and injuring 80
others, has raised alarm bells
about the safety of the resi-
dents. The residents are now
living in fear of a similar catas-
trophe unfolding in their own
homes.
Social activist Avinash Ragh-
unath Kadam from Ghatkopar
said, “Police colony buildings
once had open spaces, provid-
ing better connectivity to hos-
pitals, schools and markets.
Now, new walls restrict access.
The buildings are in a dire
state; slabs can collapse during
the monsoon, with small parts
falling every year. One heavy
rain could cause another dis-
aster in Ghatkopar. Despite the
recent collapse of a hoarding
that killed many, attention was
not given to the adjacent rail-
way police quarters. Empty
entry on the one-way stretch
between Almeida Park Road
and Hill Road. Kumbhare
promised to put up spikes on a
trial basis. Another decision
taken was the reimplementa-
tion of odd-even-day parking
boards at St Cyril Road, which
were removed during concret-
ing work.
Recently, the FPJ high-
lighted the traffic congestion
caused due to parking by car
dealers, taxi owners and heavy
commercial vehicles at Mt
Mary Kane Road, St Leo’s
Road, St Anthony Road, Kan-
appointed committee. Your
managing committee shall
strictly follow the rules and
shall ensure that such
members are not given an
opportunity to complain or
raise issues. As regards insti-
gating other members, the
managing committee may
call such member/s and
understand the root cause of
the grudges and try to re-
solve them. In case the
member still continues to do
so, the managing committee
may send a warning letter to
such member/s and sub-
sequently take the matter
before the general body for
further action. The matter
may also be escalated to the
advisory complaints com-
mittee set up for the pur-
pose. You may also try to
settle the matter through
mediation via MGP’s concili-
ation and mediation centre
SAMET. Please visit mgpsa-
met.org for further informa-
tion.
Q. What are the rules re-
garding parking in open
space, garage and covered
area or purchasing a new
house?
— Rangnathan Iyer,
Chembur
A. Parking is one of the is-
sues of dispute with the de-
veloper and the society. In
order to clarify the issues re-
lating to parking, Ma-
haRERA has issued
directives vide Circular
36/2021 dated July 30, 2021.
As per the directives, open
parking areas are provided
to the developers free of FSI.
As such they are not entitled
Sunrise
WEATHER 06:03 am
Overview
Year of Families: Over Plot area: Uninhabited
Construction:
1980 500 36 24 residing
Monthly Rent:
₹13,000 - ₹15,000
buildings could collapse any
day and have become hotspots
for thieves, drugs and gamb-
ling. Even the police face con-
stant complaints, including
chain snatching, in this mostly
deserted area. Building No 3
and 4 are in the worst con-
dition, right next to the petrol
pump where the incident oc-
curred. If they are dilapidated,
why isn’t the government tak-
ing action? The BMC has also
declared these buildings dan-
gerous by putting notices.”
“We’ve been writing to the
railway police administration
deshwari Marg and Roque
Road. Kumbhare said that po-
lice will identify and enforce
designated parking zones for
these car dealers, while the
BMC will install parking sign-
boards. Traffic cops will tow
away illegally parked vehicles,
he added.
This newspaper had also re-
ported about traffic chaos re-
sulting from a high number of
motorists visiting cafes, audi-
toriums and open grounds. To
tackle the problem, the traffic
police will ask the BMC to in-
stall CCTV cameras so that
to sell or allot open parking
areas for monetary con-
sideration. The developer
has to hand over the open
parking slots to the society
as and when formed. It is the
prerogative of the society to
decide on the open parking
slots. Covered parking can
be sold or allotted by the de-
velopers. Open parking
areas, garage and covered
parking space are required
to be specifically marked
and numbered at the real es-
tate project site in accord-
ance and as per approved /
sanctioned plans and tagged
to the apartment to which it
is allotted. Garage and / or
covered parking space when
sold / allotted for monetary
consideration, the type,
numbers and size as well as
the place where such garage
or covered parking space is
situated is required to be
mentioned in the agreement
for sale to be entered into
with the home buyer.
The plan showing the
exact location / allotment
along with the particulars as
aforesaid should be annexed
to the agreement for sale.
The details of open and
covered parking and
garages, if any, have to be
mentioned on the
MahaRERA website by the
developers of all registered
real estate projects.
The questions are
answered by Sharmila
Ranade, a legal expert
associated with Mumbai
Grahak Panchayat. The
questions, in brief, may be
sent to fpjchs@gmail.com
Sunset
07:19 pm
Buildings:
acres
for months, but they’ve taken
no action,” said a resident of
the colony. “Every house has
leaky roofs and damaged stair-
cases. Some families have even
moved out due to the water
damage.” Two police families
relocated from their staff
quarters after the first mon-
soon showers brought water
seeping into their homes.
Another resident of the col-
ony said, “No water supply, a
broken drainage system and
crumbling building structures
make life unbearable. We pay
Rs15,000 per month for these
they can monitor footage and
act against those who flout
norms. Moreover, the police
will provide parking stickers to
the residents of Almeida Park
and neighbouring areas to do
away with the problem of en-
croaching on parking space.
Mario Fishery, a Bandra
resident, said, “The police as-
sured us that they along with
the BMC would take prompt
action to address these issues.
A follow-up meeting will be
organised to review the prog-
ress and address any addi-
tional concerns.”
Plan to plant
200 trees
along WEH
Rucha Kanolkar
MUMBAI
In a significant leap towards
urban afforestation and envi-
ronmental conservation, the
BMC along with Make Earth
Green Again (MEGA) Founda-
tion will plant 200 Bahava
trees along the Western Ex-
press Highway (WEH) in
Bandra today (June 24). The
initiative is part of the broader
objective of mitigating the en-
vironmental damage caused
by Cyclone Tauktae, which
uprooted numerous trees in
4,500
Bahava trees in city
the city in 2021.
The drive will be held at
Kherwadi, Bandra, in the
presence of actor Akshay
Kumar, BMC chief Bhushan
Gagrani, Deputy Municipal
Commissioner Vishwas Mote
and Dr Anusha Srinivasan
Iyer of MEGA Foundation.
Also known as Golden
Shower trees due to their vi-
brant yellow blossoms, Baha-
vas are natural indicators of
rainfall.
Their sight in full bloom
heralds the monsoon onset.
Standing at a height of up to
40 feet, Bahavas play a key role
in increasing oxygen levels
apart from providing shade.
Currently, Mumbai boasts
more than 4,500 Bahava
trees.
Their presence along the
WEH will not only beautify
the landscape but also play a
crucial role in improving air
quality.
TEMPERATURE
dilapidated houses, but there
are no basic amenities.”
The local group ‘Amhi Ghat-
koparkar Pratishthan’ is plan-
ning a protest to address the
dilapidated conditions of the
police colony buildings.
Despite receiving notices
from the BMC to conduct a
structural audit of the build-
ings, nothing has been done so
far. The Government Railway
Police (GRP), owner of the 36-
acre plot housing the colony,
has developed amenities like a
football ground, swimming
pool and event lawns. Yet, resi-
dents lament that these facil-
ities overlook the dire living
conditions within their
quarters.
Dr Ravindra Shisve, Com-
missioner of Police, Railways,
told FPJ, “We have written to
the PWD at least five to six
times over the past year, yet we
have not received any re-
sponse. Demolition of unin-
habitable buildings is PWD’s
responsibility. We have va-
cated the most dangerous
buildings, and repairs for those
still occupied are under con-
sideration.
This year, Rs6.5 crore has
been allocated for repairs, in-
cluding internal fixes, external
plastering, and terrace water-
proofing.
We are addressing the re-
pairs building by building. We
also organise initiatives like the
‘Anand Shala summer camp’
for children and other similar
programs to enhance commu-
nity welfare.”
The traffic police along
with the BMC will take
several measures to
address the grievances,
assures JCP (Traffic) Anil
Kumbhare
ISIS mag predicts
return of ‘warriors’
Ashish Singh
MUMBAI
The latest edition of the ISIS
online propaganda maga-
zine, ‘Voice of Khurasan’, its
first after the Lok Sabha
elections in India, has proph-
esied that warriors like Mu-
hammad bin Qasim and
Mahmud Ghaznavi who are
among the first Islamic in-
vaders in the subcontinent
will come again to teach a
lesson to the Indian govern-
ment and oppressors of the
Indian Muslims.
The magazine claimed
that these warriors would at-
tack Indian cities and de-
stroy ‘polytheists and their
idols’.
On the condition of ano-
nymity, a senior officer from
a central intelligence agency
said that ISIS online propa-
ganda serves as a playbook,
citing historical events such
as those involving Ghaznavi
and bin Qasim to encourage
followers to emulate their
acts like targeting religious
sites, like the 2002 Akshard-
ham temple attack, the 1984
Golden Temple attack, the
Amarnath Yatra, or the re-
cent attack on a bus carrying
Vaishnodevi pilgrims in
Raeesi, Jammu and Kashmir.
The propaganda urges at-
tacks on temples or pilgrim-
age sites, taking devotees
hostage and destruction of
temples. The latest edition
indirectly assigns tasks, sug-
gesting either lone-wolf at-
tacks or giving instructions
to radicalised youth groups.
Sources said that the
propaganda magazine was
33.3°C 26.5°C
Colaba
www.freepressjournal.in
31.9°C 24.3°C
Although the courts have mandated action, the
hawkers reappear, raising questions about the BMC’s
compliance and accountability
Advocate goes
on fast until
death against
corruption
Rucha Kanolkar ficial actions merely for show.
MUMBAI The corporation fails to en-
force these directives despite
Facing mounting issues re- clear orders from the Supreme
lated to hawkers in the R Court and Bombay High
North and R Central wards, Court. Although the courts
Advocate Kapil Soni has been have mandated action, the
diligently following up on the hawkers reappear, raising
municipality’s inaction. De- questions about the BMC’s
spite numerous complaints, compliance and accountabil-
the ward office has failed to ity.”
address the grievances. In re- Soni further criticised the
sponse, Advocate Soni has an- BMC for its purportedly fake
nounced an demolition actions.
indefinite hunger “While BMC ve-
strike, abstaining hicles are stationed
from food and right in front of
water, to protest these hawkers, no
against the BMC’s al- action is taken. I de-
leged corrupt prac- mand concrete ac-
tices, including tion, understanding
sheltering and pro-
tecting
hawkers and food
illegal
Kapil Soni
that while hawkers
need to earn a liveli-
hood, they must
stalls. also adhere to legal business
The hunger strike, aimed at practices,” he remarked.
exposing corruption within Advocate Soni highlighted
the BMC, is set to begin on several pressing issues, includ-
June 26, 2024, and will initially ing the encroachment by
take place at the DMC Zone - hawkers and food stalls on
VII Office in R South Ward, footpaths and roads within 150
Kandivali West. From July 1, meters of railway stations at
the protest will move to the SV Road, Jambhli Gully, BMC
BMC headquarters, where Market Road, Chandavarkar
Soni vows to continue his Cross Road and Borivali West.
strike until his demands are These encroachments cause
met or until his death. significant trouble to people.
Advocate Kapil Soni, a vocal He also pointed out the illegal
critic of the BMC, stated, “The use of gas cylinders and the
BMC takes action only where preparation and sale of food in
there is no monetary gain. open spaces at Devraj Shop-
Under pressure from senior ping Mall, Harishankar Joshi
officials, they perform super- Road, Dahisar East.
Muslims and labels Prime
The online Minister Narendra Modi as
anti-Muslim. The magazine
propaganda further said that during the
election campaign, Modi re-
ferred to Muslims as infiltra-
tors, and a BJP candidate
publicly referred to Muslims
as insects and two-legged
animals. They claim that the
land originally belonged to
Islam and that it has been
‘encroached’ by other faiths.
ISIS accuses BJP leaders of
making derogatory com-
ments about Islam on vari-
ous platforms, including TV,
■ ‘Voice of Khurasan’
says Muhammad bin
social media and in
speeches.
“What is important is how
it is gradually influencing the
Qasim and Mahmud minds of youth and the com-
Ghaznavi will come munity. It is planning to cre-
again to teach a ate new patterns of
lesson to the Indian terrorism, ranging from bio-
government
logical attacks to lone wolf
■ The propaganda attacks,” the source said.
calls for attacks on The significant concern is
temples or pilgrimage that its form of terrorism has
sites, taking devotees no defined shape, specific
hostage and targets or borders, which
destruction of poses a serious challenge for
temples agencies. Recently, the Guja-
rat Anti-Terrorism Squad
■ Indirectly assigns
(ATS) arrested four terrorists
tasks, suggesting
who were Sri Lankan
either lone-wolf
attacks or giving citizens and associated with
instructions to ISIS. They were allegedly on
radicalised youth a mission to carry out terror
groups activities in India following
the directions of their Pakis-
tan-based handler. This digi-
trying to manipulate, brain- tal indoctrination by ISIS is
wash, and instigate individ- the most significant threat at
uals for anti-national present because it enables
operations, urging them to ISIS to fund individuals from
choose the path of jihad and one country through a third
hijra to seek revenge. party and carry out terrorist
The article claims that the activities orchestrated by a
Indian government targets handler in another country.