Worli bund hits Koliwada hurdle

Updated on: 09 June,2011 06:58 AM IST |
Chetna Sadadekar | chetna.sadadekar@mid-day.com

Residents of flood-prone Janata Colony urge the government to resume work on the Rs 1.97-crore project, while local fishermen oppose the bund tooth and nail

Residents of flood-prone Janata Colony urge the government to resume work on the Rs 1.97-crore project, while local fishermen oppose the bund tooth and nail

Fearing a 2005-like deluge that submerged their homes, around 10,000 residents of Worli Sea-face have approached the state government to resume construction of the 340-m-long bund, running along Janata Colony and Koliwada areas.

But Koliwada residents, mostly fisher folk whose homes will also get secured from floods once the Rs 1.97-crore project is completed, are up in arms against the initiative, claiming the bund, 50m of which runs along Koliwada, will leave no space for anchoring their boats near their houses and eventually damage them.

The 340-m-long bund, running along Janata Colony and Koliwada areas, is a bone of contention among locals

The public works department had to stop construction at the site last December after residents of Koliwada took the streets demanding that the project be scrapped.

Laxman Patil, secretary of Gaavkari Estate Committee, a fishermen's association, said, "If this bund stretches more than the specified area then it would leave no space for anchoring our boats during monsoons, which is an off season for us."

But Janata Colony residents had a different take on the issue. Gunwan Patil, a resident of Janata Colony, said, "We have no problem with the bund as it would help save our homes during monsoon. I don't know why Kolis are opposing the project, the bund will also save their homes from getting submerged."

A public works department officer said that the work was stopped as residents of Koliwada were not ready to talk to them.

However, State Housing Minister Sachin Ahir said, "The bund is being constructed only on the land owned by Bombay Port Trust and the slums that are on BMC land.
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If anybody has a problem he should intimate us in writing so that we can take cognizance of the issue. The bund will benefit everyone including those who are up in arms against it for reasons best known to them."