August 2019 > A MonthlyNewsletter > For private circulation only

Action for good Governance & Networking in Tanushree Venkatraman India

Forward This To All - And All Forward - Together A A R E Y F O R E S T H E A R I N G Editorial Citizens vociferously oppose Aarey tree With cutting Pamela Cheema rejuvenated was issued on June 30th . We h e g o v e r n m e n t o f were not allowed to go inside ALMs, creating Maharashtra called a public T the depot under construction hearing on July 8 at the MMRDA JAAGs now will at Aarey to check if the trees auditorium at BKC to discuss the which are going to be cut have issue of the cutting of 2702 trees be easier notices fixed to them. But we in the Aarey forest. According to eople's participation in noticed that the depot had the government, the cutting of civic governance is the mud more than 10 ft high as if P these trees is essential for the Pardeshi, Superintendent of core of democracy. AGNI's the government wanted to hide JAAG (Joint Area Action construction of the car depot for gardens, Mumbai, spoke first Group) in a ward is a Metro 3 which extends from and disclosed that the BMC confederation of ALMs and south Mumbai to SEEPZ. h a d r e c e i v e d 8 2 , 0 0 0 C i t i z e n s / R e s i d e n t s Despite the short notice given objections about the hacking Associations in a ward. It is for the public hearing, the of trees in Aarey. He then therefore also a way forward M M R DA a u d i t o r i u m wa s threw the forum open to the to increase the presence of overflowing with people with a audience. AGNI in the city. large number sitting in the aisles One of the first people to The new Commissioner, due to the paucity of seats. The speak was Zoru Bhathena, something.” Mr. Praveen Pardeshi, has audience also included a fair well-known activist, who is He pointed out that “the shown his desire to pump number of Adivasis from the passionately trying to save Bombay High Court has passed fresh life into the citizens' hamlets inside Aarey forest, Aarey forest along with NGO a stay order against tree group participation in the dressed in their Sunday best. V a n s h a k t i . S p e a k i n g removal and even the Metro wards by calling them the There were around 18 people eloquently, he mentioned authority had contd. on Page 4 “eyes and ears” of the BMC. sitting on the dais. Mr Jitendra that “a notice to cut the trees The Commissioner has contd. on Page 4 contd. from Page 1 already kickstarted change by issuing instructions in his On a mission to save our trees letter No. 8997 dated 27/06/2019, to Ward Maria D'souza Officers that “It has become h at i s co m m o n to not for our the monsoon. necessary to implement WKanchan Nath and Sharda t r e e s t h a t It brings us to strict and widespread use of Godeshwar of Chembur, Rajaram a b s o r b t h e t h e a d v a n c e d l o c a l i t y Yadav of Borivali and a 16-year- heat. We could question—Do management at the ward old boy from Navy Nagar? They then call a trees need to level. Therefore, All are all victims of' tree collapse' in t r e e , a be trimmed? Assistant Commissioners Mumbai. They lost their precious MODERATOR. The answer is shall arrange regularly lives to tragedies that could easily A tree is also A Yes. Pruning monthly meetings with have been avoided. The BMC CREATOR. Ask involves the existing ALM members and very conveniently looked at these a fifth grader and she will tell removal of branches that have also encourage new ALMs in incidents as natural calamities you all about the creation of gone weak or diseased and may the area”. caused by rains and strong winds. soil, oxygen and precipitation be detrimental to its overall Ward Coordinators, where By their very nature, a tree is a through its own internal health and safety. But in there is no JAAG, should CO-OPERATIVE. It is home to mechanism. What better Mumbai, the BMC considers therefore take a plunge and many species of birds, insects, TEACHER could we have than itself the tree surgeon of the not miss this golden squirrels. They all team up and a tree that has far reaching city. They do not prune a tree, opportunity of creating a assist in decomposing surplus benefits, more than just its they hack it! Branches of trees JAAG in your area and follow leaves and activate soil bacteria. beauty and shade. are indiscriminately cut to up with ward officers in It is A PROTECTOR protecting us It has become a source of create an imbalance in the i m p l e m e n t i n g t h e f r o m t h e e l e m e n t s o f worry in recent times that equilibrium of the tree. Then C o m m i s s i o n e r ' s nature—heat, dust, industrial even rain trees that can we have the BMC road maker, naturally withstand rainfall w h o i n t h e n a m e o f instructions. aerosols. Our summers could MMJ MMJ have been unbearable if it were and winds, have fallen prey to development, contd. on Page 4 2 Mumbai Meri Jaan August 2019 Swachha Mumbai Abhiyaan ALMs will lose credibility if not taken Unfairness, Sagar Pillai seriously Dr Neville A Mehta, CEO, Mumbai First Quantum Plus! They should consist of passionate citizens of the area who Rajkumar Sharma are positive in nature and less political in their actions performance. In the times in When citizens segregate, who w h i c h w e l i v e t o d a y, mixes the garbage and takes it? ny Government which the locality. performance evaluation is a When drains are cleaned or Awants to achieve good The MCGM, on the other hand, must if we wish to make trees trimmed, who lets it be governance, cannot do so must have the will to listen to Mumbai Metropolitan Region there for days together? without the participation of the suggestions, ideas and feedback (MMR) the best. When walking down the road public and private sector. and implement mutually decided One more important you want to throw something, Governance is for the people legislations, initiatives etc. which suggestion that I would like to you look for a bin, where do you and by the people and if this should be time bound. The give MCGM is that frequently find it? theory is accepted by the MCGM must also realize that if MCGM lacks technical When someone on the road government, they will meet with they do not treat ALMs with knowledge and innovative wants to go to the toilet, does he more success, less opposition seriousness and take into technology and hence should find one nearby? And when you and heartburn. consideration their suggestions, partner with knowledge find one you don't even feel like Hence the reactivation of they will lose their credibility and partners who are technology using it! ALMs (Advanced Locality the faith and the attention of the driven and can help in The Municipal Schools, Management) is very logical ALMs. guiding, implementing and H o s p i t a l s , H a w k e r s , and need based. They should MCGM must also adopt the evaluating projects and Encroachments, Implementing consist of passionate citizens of model of interaction on a regular initiatives. Here again the plastic ban, Officers not the area who are positive in basis, Action Taken Reports Mumbai First is an ideal r e s p o n d i n g t o c i t i z e n s ' nature and less political in their should be discussed at every platform to facilitate this and complaints, Conditions of SRA actions. ALMs must realize meeting and there should be has done so many times in the buildings, Transit camps...... that no personal agenda can be communication and deliberations last two decades. on and on and on. MMJ taken up by individual members at all times. MCGM must realize ALMs should also have a The last straw, BMC thrusting nor do they have the judicial and accept that they will be representative from other their failures on citizens. power to force their agendas on accountable to the ALMs for non- agencies like the Police, etc. Gar Peopleden Was temust Shredding segregate, Machine other citizens in the locality. performance and inefficiency. Lastly, I conclude by saying compost, give their dry waste to They must also realise that This in particular is very important that ALMs are the way forward recyclers, AND pay tax to the legislation is implemented for as often the ALMs are neglected and if properly implemented BMC for waste management. the common good of all citizens or not consulted because MCGM and organised, it could be a And we are to be blamed. of the Mumbai Metropolitan cannot accept that citizens of the great boost in governance I TOTALLY disagree. Region (MMR) and not just of locality should question their and citizen participation. R a j k u m a r S h a r m a i s A G N I MMJ Coordinator, M (E & W) Ward MMJ Rainwater Harvesting Planting Urban forests on the banks more than 33 schools in the last contd. from Page 3 city.If we use month, working with almost of Powai Lake five litres of water to clean one 20,000+ students. He aims to scale Pamela Cheema vehicle, imagine the lakhs of this number up to 100 schools MMJ n early July the Municipal litres of water that is being soon. Commissioner, Mr Pardeshi, I w a s t e d . T h i s h a r v e s t e d “The kids have a lot of fun doing chose five plots in different parts rainwater can be used to tackle it. They play and learn as they dig of Mumbai for the plantation of that wastage or even mop the ground and collect pebbles urban forests according to the MMJ c o m m o n s p a c e s w i t h i n and stones to add to the pit. Our Miyawaki method of plantation. of the banks of the lake for societies.” focus is on schools to increase This method of plantation of plantation. Thereafter, when the While installing these units, awareness. Kids are the best urban forests was invented by a monsoon gradually subsides, the one must remember to keep medium to bring about this J a p a n e s e b o ta n i st , A k i ra plantation of the forest will begin. them at least 10 to 20 feet away change. I want to especially thank Miyawaki. A forest planted by this Apparently, these forests are from the main building to all the principals of the schools method will, in ten years, look like planted when rainfall decreases. prevent the water from seeping who have displayed unwavering a 100-year-old forest. In Mumbai where there is into the building walls and support for the project. The kids I wrote to the Municipal c o n t i n u i n g r a m p a n t o v e r - making them weak. proudly tell their parents about Commissioner asking him to also construction and no thought is Mukherjee explains the entire how they built this pit. We are include Powai in his new scheme being applied to maintain a balance process of installing the system. hoping it will motivate their o f u r b a n f o r e s t s . T h e in the environment (which is even Shedding light on the time colonies and societies to do it too.” Commissioner was quick to now triggering devastating taken to set up the system, he The cost of the entire installation respond and instructed the consequences) the Miyawaki says, “It takes no more than two can range between Rs 2,500 to garden department of S ward to method of plantation may prove to to three hours depending on the 5,000 based on the availability of undertake a reconnaissance with be a game changer. Other suburbs size of the pit and the labour resources and labour required, in me of the banks of Powai lake to should also pitch in seeking such available. In a school, with the a lot of spaces where drums and select specific areas where the afforestation which could initiate a help of 100-200 students, we pipes are available, it can done for plantations can be done. The transformational effect in the can set up the system in within free, says Mukherjee. Hydraulic Department of the quality of our lives in the city. two hours.” What the drum looks like BMC, under whose purview the Pa m e l a C h e e m a i s AG N I ' s He has executed the project in “But when contd. on Page 4 lake falls, will clear selected areas coordinator in S ward. MMJ Mumbai Meri Jaan August 2019 3 Establishing Rainwater Activists Meet- Unsung Hero Harvesting Systems in Schools ing with DMC in of Malad Wall Subhajit Mukherjee, the founder of the city-based NGO, Mission R/N ward Collapse Green Mumbai, has found a cost-effective solution to the problem of rain water wastage using PVC pipes and a water drum. Shrikant Soman Anthony Dias Willie Shirshat Jovita Aranha he LACC Members of hen the wall collapsed AGNI Coordinator R/N same time, it would give us Ward 1,7 and 8 in R/N uring the incessant rains that T on slum dwellers at immediate results.” ward had a fruitful two-hour W Malad, Father Warner Dparalysed the city on July 1 long meeting with the DMC, 2019 this year, the BMC flushed Mr Vishwas Shankarwar, on D'souza and his team were in out more than 13,694 million June 25th 2019 at the newly regular contact with the litres of rainwater into the sea. renovated large conference This is equivalent to the combined hall in the ward. All the senior water capacity of Tulsi lake at officials of the BMC R North 4,385 ml and Vihar lake at 9,924 ward including the AMC, Ms ml that supply potable water to Sandhya Nandedkar, were Mumbai! present. Around 30 members of the LACC (Local Area At a time when several cities Citizens Committee) of Ward across the country are running How does the system work? 1,7 and 8 were present. dry, it is indeed unfortunate that a The concept is straightforward. It city which has the potential to channels water that falls onto your people at the site. He harvest rain has to release it into terrace into a pit underground to personally conducted a the sea. However, there are a few conserve and revive groundwater survey with the help of three environmentally and socially and other water bodies like ponds, or four NGOs to find out how proactive people who are not only lakes, and deep tube wells. It can be many people were affected changing their lifestyles, but also extracted for use too. and to ensure that the innovating ways to conserve Mukherjee explains the different Various issues related to civic affected families were given water. ways in which rainwater can be matters and governance were relief. Father Warner and his Subhajit Mukherjee, the founder harvested. discussed threadbare. Mr team have provided financial of the city-based NGO, Mission One way is to dig a pit and create a Shankarwar was very upfront aid to 55 homes, initially Green Mumbai, has found a cost- catchment area to accumulate i n g i v i n g o n - t h e - s p o t Rs20,000 each was given to effective solution to the problem rainwater. Once dug, this pit is filled directions to civic officials for 19 homes.Total assistance of rainwater wastage using PVC with small pebbles or stones to corrective actions related to has been sought by 64 pipes and a water barrel/drum. prevent evaporation. Once it starts issues raised by citizens. The homes which is now being A M C , M s S a n d h y a raining, the rainwater falls into the A sketch to explain the Nandedkar, was also very co- functioning of the system pit through the crevices or gaps operative and helpful. The between the rocks and stones that meeting gave a sense of MMJ cover it. Over some time, once full, satisfaction to all the citizens this rainwater starts seeping into the present as they had a very g r o u n d , r e c h a r g i n g t h e successful meeting with a groundwater table. DMC and other BMC officials Zahida Banatwalla,AGNI's Coordinator K (W) Another advantage of adding who were very receptive to planned. their grievances. these stones and pebbles is to avoid MMJ The affected people have Thanks to the attention the any pedestrian accidents. (e.g. since also approached the local solution has received, Mukherjee, the pit is full of rocks, no passerby takes time for the water to seep a u t h o r i t i e s a n d s t a t e a Malad resident, is now installing will fall into it). entirely into the ground. He has government for financial aid. the rainwater harvesting and Mukherjee's second method of suggested that institutes which Father Warner plans to help groundwater recharging system in rain water harvesting, which is have installed the system should t h e p e o p l e t o h e l p schools and private housing rapidly gaining popularity on social use the harvested water to mop themselves and ensure that societies. media, involves a blue barrel and floors, water trees or clean their children continue their In an exclusive interview with PVC pipes. This method is used not toilets. education. MMJ The Better India (TBI), Mukherjee only to recharge groundwater but “Think about it, a school, on an The affected people do not revealed that the idea was initially also to use the collected water for average, needs at least 5,000 shared by retired IPS officer and secondary purposes. litres of water every month for governor of Pondicherry, Kiran Take a barrel of the size and floor mopping. Imagine saving Bedi, almost a month ago. capacity you need and drill some 5,000 litres of rainwater every “I spoke to her and researched holes around its surface. Dig a 3×3 ft month during the monsoon further about how a system like or 5×5 ft pit, install the drum in it and season. This accounts for saving this could be adopted. I got in connect it with a PVC pipe leading to close to 20,000 litres of water for touch with engineers at IIT the terrace. Fill the cavity with cleaning and mopping over four want to be resettled at Mahul Bombay who were able to help pebbles and stones to prevent mud months.” which is a toxic hell. They are with the modifications required to from entering the drum and wedge Also, if installed in societies, pleading with the authorities make the system effective. Even the drum in firmly. this water can be used for the to shift them to SRA homes they thought that the idea was What are the benefits of secondary purpose of washing at Kandivili. With the help of cost-effective and wouldn't such a method? vehicles, adds Mukherjee. the government, possibly require complex engineering Mukherjee adds that the drum can “There are more than 18 lakh their problems will be knowledge to build. And, at the vehicles in the contd. on Page 2 hold water for seven to 10 days as it mitigated soon. MMJ MMJ 4 Mumbai Meri Jaan August 2019 Citizens vociferously oppose Aarey tree cutting On a mission to save our trees contd. from Page 1 mentioned not yours, the trees are our children. contd. from Page 1 concretes the tree leaving that no work can be done because The government just wants us to no trees can be cut. Hence you move into jhopadpattis. Of what use or asphalts or lays paver no space for the have overstepped your authority is the Metro to an adivasi?” blocks so close to the tree tree to breathe. by calling this meeting. We want a One of the most heartening that they choke the tree, In 2016, they reversed their response from you and if there is features of this public hearing was denying it the air, water and thinking in favour of asphalting. the number of young college and nutrients it requires for its Again the same mistake. Very even school children who were survival. recently, Kane Road was present at the meeting. One of them ALM 33, Mt. Mary / Kane redeveloped with asphalt contd. on Page 4 contd. from Page 1 stood up and said bluntly “you are Road did a survey of its trees displacing the earlier paver immoral. We don't have clean air and found 12 different blocks. The residents met with and water. We have missed school MMJ species of trees totaling 79 in the contractor. One of the and college to attend this meeting. Please make sure that you don't number. They are tall trees suggestions made, was to make us miss school and college with a thick girth, they asphalt only the carriageway, as even one thing that I have said again!” provide a beautiful cool is done in Goa and Kerala where which is wrong, please let me The meeting ended with the canopy to the pedestrian or the road is lined with big trees. know.” municipal officials promising to j o g ger. Ou r AL M tree Common sense is given no ear. One of the Adivasi women issue the minutes of the public committee noticed that a Last month, as a pilot project speaking powerfully said, hearing in 20 days. number of trees are termite outside Shanti Avedhna, the “hundreds of us have come here Pamela Cheema is the AGNI ridden and close to collapse. ALM, used its own funds to give Coordinator for S ward today for an answer. Aarey is ours, MMJ We called in PCI to give us a our trees, the lungs of the city, quote for pest control. As their breathing space. The Rainwater Harvesting abundantly. As humans, water is the for donation received soon as the BMC heard of this contractor employed was After demolition Contd. from Page 2 we are first element we are exposed to, like in June 2019 from:- MMJ in the womb of our mothers. How through the newspapers, asked to remove the paver installing these pits in schools, I do Austin Nazareth Rs.500/= involve some labour, because I can we not work towards conserving they decided to 'save face' by blocks from around the trees MMJ don't want children to pick up the it? We need to conserve water in bringing in their own pest leaving a space of 16 square drum. Sometimes, when the order to consume it. This system is control. They have started the feet around the trees free. Tree school doesn't have a drum, I shell easy to install and is much like treatment. guards have been built to money from my pocket,” he says. creating a mini-well. We need to Since the year 2000, BMC's prevent soil erosion. All other In a final message to citizens, take ownership of the quality of life new research found paver societies were asked to Mukherjee says, “It is indeed that we deserve. This is one way of blocks to be more viable for contribute towards saving the unfortunate that we have huge doing it.” non-arterial roads than trees outside their respective If this story inspired you and you towers in the city, but we fail to do asphalt. But the tragedy was buildings. The response is something as simple as harvest want to join Subhajit Mukherjee on that the paver blocks were overwhelming. Thirty-one rainwater every monsoon, that his mission, write to him at placed right up to the base of trees have been saved. too in a place where it rains [email protected] MMJ MMJ MMJ Board of Trustees AGNI Ward Coordinators Chairman & Managing Trustee Mumbai Meri Jaan D. M. Sukthankar is also available as Convenor an e-edition. Gerson da Cunha Those interested Trustees Capt. Joe Lobo in e-edition may Dinesh Ahir send an email to: Sharad Kumar [email protected] [email protected] Shyama Kulkarni giving their email Editorial Board Sharad Kumar [Editor] ids. - Editor Pamela Cheema [Asstt. Editor] Gerson daCunha Shrikant Soman MMJ Shyama Kulkarni Email: [email protected] https://sites.google.com/site/ag nimumbaimerijaan/ Published by AGNI Chadha Bldg. 1st Flr, Plot No. 95, Wadala (W), Mumbai - 400031 [email protected] Ph: 2416 5956 www.agnimumbai.in

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