[Reader-list] 5th post : slums, water contractors and plumbers

tushar bhor tushar_bhor at yahoo.com
Thu Jun 8 11:13:42 IST 2006


5th Posting :
Working Title: WATER LENSES 
Prelude for new imagination for urban water of Mumbai.
   
  This posting is in reference to inventory in slum pockets of eastern 
  suburban parts [Trombay] of Mumbai. The stories briefly mention about 
  the two important players , water contractor and plumber, important for 
  acquisition  and sustenance of the water system. The next step will be 
  to get the details about these two players. 
   
  Slums, Water contractors and Plumbers. 
   
  
..this clarifies, on contrary, Mumbai Municipal Corporation said that 
  water cannot reach the heights, people have demonstrated the way in 
  which water problem can be solved.
- Students of CORO Samiti [this story is covered with ex-students of 
  CORO samiti. CORO is a organization who organizes short courses in 
  social development in Mumbai] 
  
Community tactics and human exploitation goes hand in hand for the case 
  of Sahyadri in reference to the water issue. Communities have managed 
  to acquire water through different means; on another hand it is 
  adversely affecting the health and education of women and children 
  respectively. Women are vehicles for transporting the water, affecting 
  maternal health and children queuing at community tap are found 
  attending school very late. Sahyadri nagar is a slum pocket located on 
  hill top in eastern suburban parts of Mumbai. Being located on a hill 
  top, water is a perennial problem and water acquisition becomes 
  important part of routine life. History says that prior to 1995, the 
  cluster was deprived of basic facilities like water and electricity and 
  even local corporaters did not visit the site. Now the cluster receives 
  or rather acquires water through following means:
  - Through Mumbai Municipal Corporation [MMC] Supply.
- Through Formation  of groups
- Through Individual based connections
  MMC with the intension to supply water to sahyadri nagar, constructed 
  over head tank at the base of hill. The tank also have a capacity to 
  supply water to the near by cluster of Rahul nagar and Ganesh nagar. 
  Single network of pipes were laid for supplying water to all the three 
  clusters, but eventually due to less pressure at the hill top, sahyadri 
  nagar is still facing water problems. So certain dwellers have to 
  collect water from the community tap in the clusters at the base or 
  alternately buy water from vendors.
  Secondly, groups have routed up and thru help of water contractor 
  [locally called as contractor, who helps communities to acquire illegal 
  connection form MMC network] managed to install taps for group of 
  houses. This connection cost them around Rs. 60,000- 70,000. Once the 
  tap is installed, the group benefiting does not pay any water charges 
  to MMC and only have to look after the operational and maintenance cost 
  of electric motor.
  Individual connections are also taken for Approx. Rs. 60,000 - 70,000. 
  Other than serving the family, this connection is intentionally taken 
  for selling water to neighbours at Rs. 1 /can. A family depended on 
  this; spend about Rs. three hundred or so, which some times account 
  less than MMC water charges.
  
A story of Siddharth colony:
  Siddharth colony is blessed with water for 24 hrs. The reason being a 
  main MMC water pipe passes near by the colony. Previously before some 
  years there were 4 community taps provided by corporation, but 
  eventually the supply was stopped by the MMC with the advent of rust, 
  contaminating the water and was declared unsafe for human consumption. 
  Today almost 90% of household connections are illegally acquired and 
  are connected to the main MMC pipe line passing nearby. The main player 
  involved in installing the connection is the local Plumber. To quote a 
  resident, “no outside plumbers can solve the water problem as colony 
  plumbers only have the idea about all the connections”. The network of 
  underground  pipe lines are highly depended upon these local plumbers 
  for any kind or repair or maintenance or even during obtaining new 
  connection. Almost 90% of residents do not pay water charges to MMC and 
  enjoy full time water supply.


TUSHAR BHOR
ARCHITECT and INDEPENDENT RESEARCHER.

Residence Address: 
10/60, Madhu Sadan,Sion(w),Mumbai–400022,Maharashtra,India.
Tel. No: +91 22 24083828.
Mobile: +91 98190 35176.
E mail: tushar_bhor at yahoo.com
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