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Complaints about garbage clearance, or flooding, can now be registered AT A CHOWKY. The authorities are installing six chowkies in our suburbs where a Junior Overseer will register valid complaints
A Correspondent
Overflowing drains and uncollected garbage may soon be a thing of the past. In
a further attempt to enforce its cleanliness campaign, the BMC plans to set up
250 chowkies across the city. Aggrieved and concerned citizens can lodge complaints
about incidences of littering, non-collection of garbage, overflowing bins and
other civic problems.
At some locations, these chowkies will function after existing conservancy rooms
are repaired and facilities and technological infrastructure is added. The chowkies
will serve as a contact point between the BMC and citizens.
The first chowky in our suburbs is now operating at the street adjoining C D Deshmukh
garden, M Phule Road, Mulund east. “This chowky started operations a month
ago. Earlier, only a few administrative tasks would be carried out here since
the chowky was open for only half an hour every day. Now after renovating it,
the staff has several facilities and the Junior Overseer will receive and register
complaints. The chowky will also serve as a meeting hall for Advanced Locality
Management groups. It will remain open for at least 12 hours and very soon a telephone
will be installed here to receive complaints,” informs V K Bhat, Assistant
Engineer Environment, T Ward.
Residents can register complaints relating to garbage, drainage, flooding, tree
falling, building collapse, wall collapse and so on at the chowky. “The response
of local NGOs and residents is very encouraging. If we receive more positive feedback
we may increase the timings,” adds Bhat.
In all, six such chowkies are planned in T ward. The budget for this exercise
has been prepared and a site has been chosen near Vandana hotel, Dr R P Road,
Mulund west. The other locations are near Highland Park, Mulund Colony, Apna Bazaar
in Mulund west, and the fire brigade station in Mulund east.
“We expect the chowkies to be ready by the end of the monsoons,” hopes
Bhat. Comparing the infrastructure in the city to that in the suburbs, Bhat points
out that the city is quite well planned while the suburbs is developing at a fast
rate. But, the city has covered all drains whereas the suburbs are still having
to deal with open nullahs.
Kishore Choudhary, Assistant Engineer Maintenance, S Ward, lists at least nine
chowkies which will replace the old small roadside chowkies with improved facilities.
“The proposals are being discussed, once the plan is ready, we shall start
work.”
“The chowkies will serve two purposes — to attend to the welfare of
our conservancy staff and residents and NGOs can lodge their complaints rather
than visit the ward office. We will also provide a space for meetings with citizens.
This should instill confidence about our work,” says Parag Masurkar, Assistant
Municipal Commissioner, T Ward.
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