City families fast unto death for water

Water connection to Ghatkopar building cut off after tiff with builder

Water connection to Ghatkopar building cut off after tiff with builder

The water crisis faced by the rest of Mumbai is due to natural causes. But the one faced by two families in Ghatkopar is man-made.

The water connection of two families at Harini Building has been cut off following a dispute with a builder over redevelopment.

Sadhna Mehta (45), along with her father-in-law, freedom fighter Moolchand (85), and her neighbour Durga Mehta (87) are now on an indefinite hunger strike, which is in its fifth day today.

The families have accused the builder, Darshan Mehta of Suryakirti Enterprise, saying he wants to force them to evacuate the building, as his redevelopment plans are being delayed.

WATER WOE: The Ghatkopar families on indefinite strike at their building premises yesterday.

Sadhna told MiD DAY, "Water is very essential; nobody can survive without it. The builder is playing dirty tricks to evacuate us.

Despite the matter being in court, he used his influence in the BMC and got the water lines disconnected. He has even got the drainage line blocked.

At present, we have been fetching drinking water from the neighbouring buildings and getting tanker water for domestic use. But how long can neighbours help us?"

Sadhna's husband Girish said, "The society had signed an agreement of redevelopment with the builder in 2008-09. Out of the 12 flats, 10 flats were vacated.

We are not against the redevelopment, but the builder should carry out the redevelopment work legally.

When we took up the case with the BMC, we were told that water was cut off due to non-payment of old dues. The society was not ready to pay the dues.

However, with the intervention of the police, the old dues were paid. But the society refused to pay the water restoration charges and dumped it on to the builder."

The Other Side

Darshan Mehta of Suryakirti Enterprise clarified, "As per the agreement, they should have vacated the building by February 2009. Ten of the 12 flats were vacated. But the society paid the water bills till May 2009 for the two families that did not vacate. After this, if anybody stays back in the building, it becomes the responsibility of the individual to pay the dues. Our work has been held up because of them. On July 3, 2009, Justice Anup Mota had ordered them to vacate the building within four weeks. They just want to fight with us."