Mahul, which was a small fishing village in the neighbourhood of Mumbai, is now the home to a combination of Heavy industries and sewage treatment plants jammed together with residential apartment, together forming a nightmare to anyone who visits the place.
The single worst apartment, which is ironically known as the Eversmile Complex, is a 72 concrete building, house to nearly 30,000 people in crumbling, garbage filled apartment with leaking sewage from the top floors and in the ground pits. Latest report by Indian Institute of Technology states that out of the whole, 204 residents suffer skin infections, 129 live with chronic fever and colds with over 200 reported loss of jobs or wages. Talking more to resident, they say that nine people have died this year from July 29th due to varied diseases. Even when the total number of death is not exact, it is estimated to be near to 100 from 2017. Residents also shared about a boy who recently moved in there, “he fell sick and ultimately killed himself” says one among the residents.
National Green tribunal had declared the place to be unfit for human habitation in 2015, but BMC has been denying this and high court mulling over it right now. The very reason for the place to be filled with these many people is the demolition drive displacement of families by the BMC and relocation of the same to the Eversmile Complex.
“If they wanted to kill us, they would have done it at once than dumping us here” says Pooja a 29year old resident, “food grains, vegetables and medicinal herbs starts rotting in a week” she adds. The water there was so hard that people report to feel their stomach knotting up instantly. “Look how government is bringing down Aarey forest. Look like they are turning it into another Mahul. They are more interested in moon expeditions that for people earth.” says Rekha, aged 36, a resident who is mobilizing other residents to campaign for relocation.
The terrace there gives the view of thick smoke emitting chimneys of the factories nearby, with blazed up skies at night from the heat and light from the chimneys. “First thing to do in the morning, is to clean the thick pile of ashes from every surface of the house” says a 65year old.
Making thing worse is the absence of a hospital in Mahul. A few people mostly depend on the local clinic which is unpopular among the locals. Living in such situations is sure to affect not only the physical, but also the mental health of the residents.
“If I die, don’t take my body to graveyard, but take it to the chief ministers house instead; which is why every time I talk to journalists I feel the anger again, I tell myself, We have to get out of here, and that’s what we are going to do” says Pooja Ghadge, who shows incredible leadership quality and courage and not only takes initiative to mobilize residents for campaign for relocation, but also collects medical records of residents to build a case debilitating the diseases possible for the ones living here.
Pic source: Google
Yadu Krishna
