A 30-feet-deep well in Dahisar which was declared a danger zone by the BMC has been restored to beauty. It will also be used to supply water to the fire brigade in Borivali. More than 80 trucks were filled with the garbage removed from the well and the clean up itself was a daunting task, said Manisha Chaudhary, the local MLA who helped clean the well.
Many residents of Kandarpada who have been living in the area for over four to five decades remember this ancient well whose water was used for drinking too.
Over time, the well turned into a dumping area, and the water in it became the breeding ground for mosquitoes. "Activists and residents had been raising the issue of this well located near Kandarpada circle for over the years in the Local Area Citizens Committee (LACC). The BMC use to tell us that we need to meet the Collector or get the well permanently closed. But then some people approached Chaudhary, who funded the restoration work," said local activist, DA Kossambe, adding that they are glad that not only a water body was saved but also its water will be used for fire-fighting.
Meanwhile, Chaudhary, who spent around Rs 10 lakhs from her funds to restore the well said the premises will not only function as a community area for senior citizens but is also dedicated as a memorial for the brave men from Mumbai Fire brigade. "Fire brigade also uses potable water from BMC and hence we thought that this well will help save precious water and it could also be a model for other wells to be restored," she said.
As per the MLA, powerful motors have been fitted in the well to ensure that the water can be quickly filled in the fire engines and tankers and arrangements for proper parking of fire engines will be made. The well will be inaugurated on Wednesday by Ranjit Patil, Minister of State of Home and Urban development.
A senior fire brigade official said that such sources of water are very important. "Several wells that could have helped supply for fire-fighting have been closed and thus we have to rely on water from private wells and BMC. A lot of potable water can be saved if more such wells are restored," he said.
