Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Planned effort needed to solve city problems' that was published in Newsband

Planned effort needed to solve city problems

The slum dwellers have broken open the iron fencing and set up shanties on the open land along the mangroves in Airoli. They were driven away a few days back by NMMC squad. But they have come back. In the process, a nullah has been choked partially and mangroves destroyed on the open land in sector 19, Airoli. These slum dwellers can even access free drinking water from NMMC-connected lines on the road divider green zone. Their arrival has affected the morning and evening joggers who have complained to NMMC about this encroachment.  

There was a time in the past when City & Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) had launched a WhatsApp service for residents to inform the officials about illegal encroachments. But public response were poor. The residents, however, felt that CIDCO did not publicize the number enough to evoke more reactions. Majority of residents were not even aware of the service. There was no mention of the number on CIDCO website or their offices. The nature of complaints, received then was mixed. Only 12 complaints were about unauthorized constructions in CIDCO area, three within Naina region and seven were about encroachments by hawkers. Seven were about mushrooming of slum pockets. But the question is whether CIDCO took any kind of action after receiving the complaints.

There is a resident who had written, spoken to various officials and even written on official email id of the commissioner - except for occasional enquiries but no action was taken against an encroachment right opposite to Ryan International School. This was some months back.  

There is need for NMMC and CIDCO to take initiatives to demolish illegal constructions and take steps to make Navi Mumbai encroachment free. The priority of the corporation should be to tackle the encroachment problem on the government and corporation properties. After that is done, it should take up issues related to open spaces and footpaths. Next in the line should be the building built beyond permission and post that they should go still forward.  Thus there should be a planned effort. Steps should be taken towards making the city encroachment free.