How to tackle
the "Hawkers & illegal Slums & Traffic Jams"problem
in Mumbai---A simple method
To,
Shri. Vilasrao Deshmukh 3'
rd Dec. 2004
Hon. Chief Minister M.S.
Sub.:-How to tackle the "Hawkers & illegal Slums
& Traffic Jams" problem in Mumbai---A simple method
Respected Sir ,
------1)Take strict action against erring officers ( Both BMC &
Police ),to send a clear Signal.They must be proactive (take
action atonce without waiting for "Complaints",as people
are scared to complain).
---------2)Appoint a competent & tough officer to supervise the
operations.
---------3)Involve right-minded people , (particularly those living
near the problem areas ,like Shop-keepers & eiderly citizens &
ex Military or police men ,if reqd. pay them nominal Honararium &
give them legal Authority),who can spare their time & take up
responsibility to protect the Public Places.
--------4)Involve BMC,Police,Traffic police ,MHADA,Collector's Staff,&
give them areawise Tasks & time bound program.
Good Wishes,
Yours sincerely,
( Madhu Sawant),
" I CLEAN MUMBAI
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Shri. Vilasrao Deshmukh
25 Nov. 2004
Hon. Chief Minister M.S.
The other day our Deputy Home Minister –
R R Patil was seen on a news channel saying that he would transfer
an Assistant Municipal Commissioner of a municipal ward of South Mumbai
for not acting on the complaints of citizens who had asked for removal
of unauthorized hawkers from a no-hawking zone. That surely
must have come as music for all the much harried citizens of Mumbai
who face the menace of unauthorized hawkers on their footpaths, roads,
playgrounds recreational grounds, area adjacent to railway stations
and every conceivable public open space in the city.
We would like to bring to the notice of Shri
R R Patil that despite passage of 16 months since the Honourable Judges
of the Supreme Court’s orders to the BMC chief (to speedily implement
the hawking / non-hawking zone scheme) and the constituting of a Hawking
/ Non-hawking Zone Scheme Implementation Committee (comprising of
a retired Sessions Court Judge, a senior Police Office and a senior
BMC officer) to monitor the implementation of the scheme, no sincere
effort seem to have been made by either parties. The Hon’ble judge
of the SC had ordered the Committee to withhold promotion of the concerned
Ward Officer if three remarks (in the WO’s confidential records) are
made for dereliction of duty (by this Committee) for not acting on
citizens’ complaints. And if more than six such remarks get made then
“it shall be ground for termination of services”.
We quote para 15 of Civil Appeals No.
4156 – 4157 of 2002 of SC order dated 30.7.2003 by Justice S N Variava
(Maharashtra Ekta Hawkers Union & Anr (Applents) Vs Municipal
Corporation of Greater Mumbai & Ors (Respondents) :
“ It is expected that citizens and shopkeepers
shall participate in keeping non-hawking zones / areas free from hawkers.
They shall do so by bringing to the notice of the concerned ward officer
( i.e. Assistant Municipal Commissioner ) the presence of a hawker
in a non-hawking zone / area. The concerned ward officer shall take
immediate steps to remove such a hawker. In case the ward officer
takes no action a written complaint may be filed by the citizen /
shopkeeper to the Committee (i.e. Hawking / Non-Hawking Zone Scheme
Implementation Committee). The Committee shall look into the
complaint and if found correct the Committee will with the help of
police remove the hawker. The officer in charge of the concerned police
station is directed to give prompt and immediate assistance to the
Committee. In the event of the Committee finding the complaint to
be correct it shall so record. On the Committee so recording an adverse
remark, failure to perform his duty will be entered in the confidential
record of the concerned ward officer. If more than three such entries
are found in the record of an officer it would be a ground for withholding
promotion. If more than 6 such entries are found in the records
of an officer if shall be a ground for termination of service. For
the work of attending to such complaints BMC shall pay to the Chairman
a fixed honorarium of Rs. 10,000/- p.m.”
As reported in the press some time back,
countless complaints against hawkers have been received by the
Ward Officers (AMCs) and by the Committee too, yet it is observed
that no action against the Ward Officers have been taken of either
withholding of their promotions nor termination of their services.
So we request our Honourable Deputy Home
Minister to order the Committee to study the hundreds of such complaints
received from citizens / shopkeepers and if found to be true to penalize
the concerned ward officers by withholding their promotions / terminating
their services.
Thank you.
Yours truly,
G R Vora,
And all others members of Flank Road Citizens' Forum.
Plot - 275 / 3, Gope Nivas, Sion E Mumbai - 22.
Ph - (022) 2409 1193.
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Sub.: Absense of Pro-active action (Suo motu ) by Police against nuisance
makers.
Respected Sir / Madam,
It’s deplorable that despite public nuisance
being caused on our public open spaces right under the noses of the
Police, no action is taken against the offenders. The Police have
wide ranging powers under the Bombay Police Act to warn, apprehend
or fine the culprits but rarely is it noticed that such powers are
made use of. When asked their usual answer being 'let the public lodge
a complaint then we shall see what can be done.' That’s preposterous.
Why should the Police wait for a complaint
to be lodged ? What are the “Beat constables” or the “ Beat
Officers “ for ? Don’t they observe the tremendous inconvenience caused
to the lay public by people who litter, spit, urinate, defecate, hinder
traffic by parking illegally or putting up stalls on the pavements
/ roads or other open spaces ? Or when peace and tranquility
of an area gets disturbed by the use of blaring loud speakers during
religious festivals or processions ?
Earlier, the beat constable would commonly
be observed keeping a watchful eye on such nuisances and even pulling
up nuisance-makers. Now they care a damn for the same. This
precisely being the reason for the trouble-makers who are thus emboldened
to continue with the misdemeanor due to lack of fear of being pulled-up
or fined.
The Bombay Police Act under the chapter on
“Duty of Police towards Society” clearly stipulates the Public
nuisances that the Police are supposed to deal against (under section
110 upto 117) and the powers it enjoys to warn, penalize or
fine (under section 151) whenever the nuisance laws are breached.
Thus, we urge the concerned powers-that-be
in the Police Department and the Home Minister to ensure that the
Police do not turn a blind eye and deaf ear to such nuisances caused
in our open spaces and strictly act against the law-breakers. This
surely would go a long way in instilling fear in the hearts of the
nuisance-makers and thus help in maintaining peace, harmony, reduce
lawlessness and give a better quality of life for the common man.
Thank you.
WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, IF WE CARE.
G R Vora.
Plot - 275/3, Gope Nivas, Sion E, Mumbai-22.
frcf_b22@rediffmail.com
Ph - (022) 24091193 / 9869 195785
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SUB: R.R.Patil Dy. C .M. wants Mumbai Clean & Disciplined.
Sir,
A welcome and most timely decision by Mr.R. R. Patil, Dy. C.M. He
seems to have “Vision for Mumbai’. He has declared of setting up an
Encroachment Prevention Committee headed by Municipal Commissioner,
Police Commissioner and other Departments. But what is most needed
is proper understanding at top level between the Chief Minister who
heads the Urban Development Deptt.(B.M.C.) and Dy. C.M. who heads
the Home Deptt.(Police).
Because just a few days ago; C.M. advised B.M.C to go slow on
unauthorized hawkers in Mumbai, and R.R. Patil talks about complete
eviction of unauthorized construction / Slums ?
Even now, it is never too late to stop the collapse and downfall
of Mumbai, if the C.M., Dy. C. M. (read Mun. Commr., B.M.C. &
Commr. of police) means real business( sincerity). Yhis can be done
if officers like G.R. Khairnar, T. Chandrashekhar, and Chandrashekhar
Rokde & others are given appropriate postings and authority.
This is the first step, most required, if we want Mumbai to
come somewhat near Shanghai or even Surat.
Dilip Devare
C-504,Nav-Asavari,
J.B.Nagar, Andheri-E, Mumbai-40053.
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To,
Shri. Vilasrao Deshmukh
5'th Nov. 2004
Hon. Chief Minister M.S.
Steps to improve the traffic conditions in Mumbai
Few Quick
Wins for Feel Good factor in Mumbai.
The most important daily concern of Mumbai citizens is the unbearable
traffic congestion on the roads and footpaths. Presently, MMRDA,
MSRDC (PWD) and BMC are taking up many road widening, digging and
concreting projects. Spending large amount of funds on this so called
MUTP / MUIP projects. Firstly, these projects would take long
time to complete, and in the meantime cause great hardships to the
citizens due to the traffic jams, particularly in the rainy season
(June/July). These Projects has already worsened traffic
conditions on important roads like JVLR ,SCLR ,Eastern and Western
Express Highway. LBS Road, S.V. Road, link roads, etc.
What is the real need of the hour is to make the present encroached
roads free for traffic movement and pedestrians. There are 10
lakh motorist and 75 lakh pedestrians who commute daily on Mumbai
roads. The quality of Mumbai roads is by and large good
compared to the state/national road standards (except in the rainy
season). It is suggested to take below mentioned steps
for improvement of traffic which will be “quick wins” for the Govt.
and provide a “feel good” factor for the Mumbaikars.
1. The efficiency (output) of most of
the arterial roads is reduced from 3 or 2 lanes to one lane only due
to the presence of the slums, shops, hawkers and other obstacles (wrongly
parked vehicles, etc.) along the roads. Hence, instead
of giving priority to the expensive widening or concreting of the
roads, it is better if the encroachments are simply shifted and rehabilitated,
so that the efficiency of the roads/footpaths can be increased by
3 times without spending anything on the road construction.
(And it is faster). For example P. DeMello Road, N.M. Joshi Marg,
S. V. Road, Linking Road, Senapati Bapat Marg all can be freed and
‘widened’ just by removing encroachments.
2. The recent judgment of the Supreme
Court on the issue of hawkers should be implemented in word
and spirit by the BMC. This will have a dramatic effect
in easing the traffic congestion on several important roads leading
to railway stations. However to do this we will need a dynamic Municipal
Commissioner.
3. Identify small connecting roads (links)
where there are always traffic jams like Saki Naka, Juhu gulli,
Telli Gulli, and most of the roads near railway stations/markets.
By taking urgent traffic engineering methods, this situation can be
improved. There is a Traffic Engg. Dept. in BMC and Traffic
Police but there is no coordination between them. Otherwise
a lot of solutions can be found to many traffic problems by simple
Road Engineering methods. Road Dividers
must be put on all the important roads, which will give
a good look to the road and separate two way vehicular
traffic, and the pedestrians.(less accidents too).
4. There is an urgent need to tow away
wrongly parked vehicles including taxis/autos as these vehicles block
one lane of the road traffic. It is suggested to have about
500 policemen with motorcycles and towing cranes to bring discipline
on all the roads (particularly in the suburbs). Simultaneously,
there is a need to set up Pay & Park facility on all the important
roads at 400 to 500 metres distance. These “pay and park
stations” can be set up below various Bus Depots, Railway Stations,
public gardens, playgrounds, etc. on BOT basis. These measures
will not cost the Govt. or BMC anything, but will fetch handsome regular
revenue. For example, near Siddhi Vinayak Temple there
is always crowd, a pay and park station can be set up below the existing
garden. Several such locations (underground) can be found at
various railway stations / crowded public places / (Cinema theatres)
all on B.O.T. basis.
Finally, it is suggested that instead of spending large funds or Loans
on the road widening or concreting of roads or even the Grandiose
and Expensive METRO- RAIL PLAN (increasing inconvenience to Mumbaikar’s
traffic congestion), it would be better to spend this amount
only for removal of the encroachment of slums and shops by shifting
them providing alternate House / shops and freeing Roads for traffic
and citizens movement.
Good Wishes,
Yours sincerely,
( Madhu Sawant),
" I CLEAN MUMBAI "
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