No improvement

R-South ward has been struggling with many civic problems. Bad roads, illegal hawkers, shortage of water are few to name. Residents demand proper planning from the new corporators who will be elected from the civic poll that will beconducted on February 16.

The R–South Ward, is one of the wards that has seen a significant growth in terms of population in past decade. But as compared to the growth in population, the provision of basic amenities have not improved. Residents have been grappling with issues like shortage of water, lack of open spaces, illegal hawkers, water logging and bad roads. 
According to details procured by Praja, a non-profit from Mumbai, through Right To Information (RTI), maximum complaints received by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is regarding water shortage and drainage.
In the year 2008-09, 600 complaints were regarding water supply, 293 and 266 in 2009-10, 2010-11 respectively.
Lack open space has been one of the major grouse of the Kandivali residents. 200 complaints regarding open spaces is received by the BMC every year.
The reoccurrence of diseases and death due to diseases also reflect a grim picture of health and hygiene facilities in the ward. According to the data, maximum cases of diarrhoea have been registered every year since 2008-09.
Tuberculosis (TB) deaths that have suddenly caught the attention of state government, take over 200 lives every year, in this ward.  The struggle to survive in this competitive world is causing hypertension among the locals. Statistics reveal, that more than 100 people die just in this ward due to hypertension.  Malaria cases that keeps the BMC on its toes during monsoon, saw 51 people die due to it in 2010-11. 
“The development here has taken place without any planning. This is the prime reason why everyone here is suffering due to lack of basic amenities,” says Vasant Patil, a member of Advanced Locality Management (ALM) from Ashok Nagar.
For residents of Thakur Village, bad roads have been one of the major issues in the ward. “For years residents of this area have been complaining of bad roads. Irrespective of monsoon, potholes are perennially present in this area. We have been suffering from health problems due to bad roads. We do not understand why local representatives have not taken the issue till now,” says Dharmesh Sawant, a resident.
Residents from Mahavir Nagar demand cleanliness and hawker free roads. “Let the BMC make use of markets and leave the footpaths for pedestrians to walk. Also more attention needs to be taken for protecting our open spaces,” says T V Kamath, member of advanced locality management from Dahanukarwadi.

Sitting corporators in R-South Ward
Ward 20- Mahavir Nagar Dahanukarwadi
Sitting corporator- Shailaja Girkar (BJP)
Voter’s turnout in 2007: 41%

Ward No 21- Aryachanakya Nagar
Sitting corporator: Raju Vyas (Congress)
Voter’s turnout in 2007: 47%

Ward No 22 Poinsur Village West- Kandivali East
Sitting corporator: Shivkumar Jha (Independent )
Voter’s turnout in 2007: 53%

Ward 23- Poinsur East – Rajaram Nagar- Ashok Nagar
Sitting corporator: Ashok Sawant (Shiv Sena)
Voter’s turnout in 2007: 45%

Ward Number 24 Samta Nagar- Dattani Park
Sitting corporator: Kshitija Pujare (SS defected to MNS)
Voters’ turnout in 2007: 47%

Ward Number 25 Damupada
Sitting corporator : Thakur Ramesh Singh (Congress)
Voter’s turnout in 2007: 48%

Ward Number 26 Vadarpada
Sitting corporator: Ajanta Yadav (Congress)
Voter’s turnout in 2007: 51% April 2010 to March 2011.

Issues raised by corporators
37 questions related to civic issues were asked by councillors in various meetings of BMC from questions related to health issues were asked by councillors in various meetings of BMC from April 2010 to March 2011.
With 60 percent attendance of 11 corporators from R-South ward, 78 questions were asked in different meetings of BMC.

About the Ward
Area: 17.78 sq.km
Railway station: 1
Best depot: 3
Police station: 4
Municipal hospital: 1
Municipal health post: 7
Private hospitals: 88
MLA: 2
MP: 1
Roads: Major 38, No Minor road: 125
Nallas: Major 17, Minor 11
Road side storm water drain: 160 kms
Garbage generation per day: 225 metric tones
Number of corporators: 11
Total number of voters: 515626

--Shubhangi Ghadi