Back to ruins

The BMC’s beautification process near the Vivek College Road seems to have gone in vain. Couple of years ago civic authorities spent `seven lakh to develop this road by . However, they have demolished the structures and dug up the area for drainage work.

Over the years, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the State Government, corporates and various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have constantly strived to give Mumbai a new face. Most of these bodies have come up with various beautification procedures, by building statues, monuments, fountains, and other eye catching artefacts. Undoubtedly, these bodies also spent a lot of money in these projects; money that is actually generated from the taxes collected from the citizens.
The road adjacent to Vivek College in Siddharth Nagar too had been beautified just two years back, with some statues build there. However, just prior to the BMC elections, the local body has broken all the structures, and started a drainage work there, defacing the entire area. What’s worse is that the money spent on the beautification is now wasted.
Tushar Pradhan, one of the residents of Siddharth Nagar, says, “The area initially looked very beautiful. The BMC had constructed two giraffes, and carved a message on it. There were saplings planted next to it. However it is sad that they have now broken them. Hopefully, they will be coming up with something better. But my concern is that whatever money was spent on making the former structures, is now wasted.”
Pandurang Ghorpade, another resident says, “Ironically, the BMC sends various messages across, asking us to keep the area clean. However they themselves have broken down the structures now, and defaced the area. Besides, with the open drains, it has only made the place look shabby. Hope they finish with their work quickly, and give the area its beauty back.”
What’s made matters worse is that the workers are repairing the drains, now that the elections are due. Due to this, the road has narrowed down, and become stinky. Although the BMC assures that the work is not a major one, and that it will take only some weeks to complete it, residents feel that there was no need to break the existing structure.
One of the residents on the condition of anonymity says, “One can see how bad the road looks now. Formerly, there was place to walk. Now people shun this road, as the place stinks. Is this why we pay our taxes? So much money was spent on building those structures; all of that is now wasted. I wonder what they will come up with next.”
Despite repeated attempts, the BMC officials refused to talk about the demolished structures. On condition of anonymity, one of the officers says, “I can only say that the work of the drain will get done soon. I cannot comment on whether we would be constructing some other structure there or not.”

--Divya Nair