Bandra Talao back to its worse

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) completed the first phase of beautification of the 7.5 acre 200-year-old 'heritage grade II' water body in April, on 2016, at a cost of Rs 3 crore. But what citizens are getting instead of renewed environment-friendly spot is a hotpot for illegal fishing, illegal feeding of pigeons in amphitheatre and the water body being used as swimming pool.

The new facility is no use for Bandra residents, thanks to poor foresight of civic body which could not maintain the grace of the heritage site and lack of civic sense among a few greedy and audacious locals, who carry out the illegal activities on a daily basis.

Fishing, feeding pigeons and swimming is strictly prohibited and rule boards are affixed by the authorities. But the residents are defying the purpose of the heritage site.

Though the project was proposed in 2009, the same was mooted in 2011. However, after several objections and corrections suggested by residents, politicians and the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee the project started rolling in 2015. After eight months when the first phase of beautification was complete, the purpose of the project has 'fallen apart' in just four months.

Every day at least 30 to 40 people do fishing activities in the pond area. "They catch fresh water fishes everyday thereby endangering the ecosystem of the water body. How can BMC allow such blatant violations. Civic body is turning a blind eye to the issue," said Anil Joseph, who is planning to take the issue to logical end by complaining about the same to BMC.

Joseph said fresh water fish fetches good price as compared to sea water fish and locals dare the security guards if he tries to stop. "Is it possible that BMC does not know anything about this", he questions.

Joseph said that feeding pigeons is not allowed, but the same is being done. Similarly, swimming is not allowed in the pond as it would contaminate the pond, but young boys swim every day. "Pond is right in the heart of Bandra and people cannot enjoy the beauty. What a waste of taxpayers' money," he said.

Asif Zakaria, Congress corporator of the area, said that entire purpose of the beautification and allow citizens to enjoy the beautiful open space is defied. There were walkways on both sides of the pond already. One on the SV Road and other on the Station side of the pond.

"We had suggested that there should be suspended walkways — as suggested by MHCC, on the other two sides of the pond — so that the connected walkway on all four sides could be used by people. Amphitheatre is also in a mess which could have been optimally exploited by citizens for cultural activities by the pond side. But now what facility is created by BMC is not of use for all. They cannot even maintain what they have created. Illegal fishing and feeding of pigeons have started and no one can stop local boys from swimming," said Zakaria, adding that two security guards are threatened by locals every day for their ulterior motives and civic body does nothing.