Brass ring costs societies in Mumbai Rs6,000

It is just a tiny brass ring, but its absence can cost housing societies dear. Fitted in the mouth of an outlet pipe of an overhead water tank, the ring prevents mosquitoes from entering the tank.

The BMC has decided to penalise housing societies where the brass ring will be missing in outlet pipes of overhead water tanks. Though small in size, the ring is a big thing in the civic body’s drive to check the spread of malaria in the city.

The pest control department of the BMC has issued notices to two housing societies — Sukh Nivas Cooperative Housing Society (CHS) and Tulip CHS, on 3rd Pasta Lane, Colaba — for not having the brass ring in the outlet pipes of their overhead tanks. The penalty imposed can range between Rs2,000 and Rs10,000, depending on how much damage has been done by the absence of the ring.

Tulip CHS’s case is pending in the BMC court, but Sukh Nivas will have to shell out Rs6,000 for not conforming to the rules. “The brass ring is like a small cufflink. The BMC’s malaria control officials found it missing while inspecting our overhead tank. They issued us a notice to get the brass ring fitted, and we did that. And yet, we have been penalised,” Ambar Nazare, a resident of Sukh Nivas CHS, said.

He went on to allege that the BMC was extorting money from housing societies under the garb of malaria control.

Dr Guirish Ambe, executive health officer, of the BMC, said, “We do not penalise directly. Our junior officers conduct surprise checks to see if overhead water tanks have the mosquito-proof ring. The errant housing societies are issued notices to instal the ring. They are given sufficient time to get the job done. But if it is still not done, then BMC prosecutes them in court.”

The BMC started its malaria awareness campaign in Colaba on Monday. BMC to penalise housings if overhead tanks are not mosquito-proof