Successes, Partial Successes, and Failures
The Governing Council comprises ordinary citizens, just like you, who have over the years continued to volunteer their time, energy and sometimes money also, to help the NSRoad neighbourhood become a better place. In many instances, their efforts are on-going; in some, they have succeeded but only partly.
Here is an overview of some actions that have helped the area and helped residents. In some cases, they have helped BMC, the Police – rightly so. And worked together with like-minded NGOs like CitiSpace.
And the Governing Council has introspected and given itself “marks out of ten”!
The Supreme Court has declared Nepean Sea Road a non-hawking zone
The struggle to regain footpaths and open spaces and more from encroachments by hawkers was taken up by CitiSpace all the way to the Supreme Court. Hawking Zones have been stipulated by the highest court of the land and placed the responsibility to remove hawkers in other areas on the BMC – with some support from the Police.
Working closely with BMC, the Governing Council has succeeded in reducing drastically the number of hawkers from nearly 400 in 2001 to about 35 in 2008.
Full success is not possible till Police follow up and maintain the area free of hawkers, who otherwise are known to pay the BMC fine and be back at work within 48 hours.
For real success, all residents need to stop buying from hawkers. With no business, they will move away. There are enough shops on and near NSRoad for residents to get their fruits and vegetables.
Forum's
score: 8 / 10
Saving PDP: The fight against a heliport
One of the biggest campaigns undertaken by the Governing Council was the mobilization of over 1000 signatures to a petition addressed to the Chief Minister to ensure that this one open space for NSRoad citizens – and the many from other neighbouring areas who visit frequently.
The petition was submitted. And the last that we have heard is that a heliport proposal been abandoned. At least for the time being. Our sincere thanks to the Chief Minister.
Forum's
score: 9 / 10
The
NSRoad Improvement and Development Plan
This was the Governing
Council’s most ambitious plan ever since the formation
of NSRCF. A most comprehensive plan that covered relocation
of bus stops, footpaths, pedestrian crossings etc.,
was submitted to the BMC way back in 2002.
Perhaps it was too
early in the Forum’s career. Perhaps it was too
detailed. Perhaps it dealt with the full stretch from
St Stephens Church to St Elizabeth’s hospital.
Perhaps it needed to be divided into specific plans
for specific agencies (like BMC, Traffic, BEST etc)
to be successful.
The Forum’s
records show that a dialogue with BMC was initiated
as far back as 2001. Unfortunately, a series of Asst
Commissioners at D Ward were transferred or promoted
so that actions could not be developed. And the Governing
Council also failed to follow through.
NSR
Development Reloaded
Finally, in 2008, it
needed not only a strong thrust from the Governing Council
but also an Assistant Commissioner who was ready to
take forward the Development Plan that was embedded
in the DC Rules.
Despite court stays
and a few recalcitrant residents, everything came together.
The Governing Council found a Municipal Commissioner
who declared the Project a priority; an MLA, Mr Mangal
Prabhat Lodha, who strongly advocated prompt actions
by the BMC; an Asst Commissioner, Mr C S Chore, who
was ready to face the odds; and the Addl Municipal Commissioner,
Mr R A Rajeev, who personally took interest and strongly
supported the Project.
After nearly six years,
the widening and development of NSRoad (in the narrow
stretch from In Style to Matru Ashish) was taken up
by BMC in the last quarter of 2008. The two resident-owners
who had obtained stays from the Court were finally won
over and work started in earnest in Feb 2009. Regrettably,
two other residents put spokes in the wheel and went
to Court, further delaying the work. The Court, recognizing
the importance of what was in effect a “public
purpose” project, has permitted work to proceed.
The benefits have been
well recorded in Issue No 22 of Public Eye. (Issues
of Public Eye are all available on this website at http://www.nsrcf.in/issues.htm,
providing some excellent information, guidance and news
from the past several years)
The first phase of
widening of NSRoad to a full 90-feet, with adequate
footpaths on both sides of the road, new/improved underground
pipes for water, storm water and sewage, a temporary
road divider and the transplantation of a number of
trees will be completed by June. Planting of new/additional
trees will follow during the monsoon. After the monsoon
a certain amount of road leveling will be required as
the newly laid base will have settled, and the second
phase will undertake the full road divider (with greenery),
pedestrian crossings with proper signages and other
amenities - and all this will be completed by the end
of the year. .
This Project has finally
shown how close working between an NGO and the BMC can
deliver benefits to residents.
Forum’s
score: 8 /10 BMC’s
score: 8 / 10
(As of May 2009. Hopefully, both scores will
be 10/10 by year-end)
The Inform and Educate Campaigns
The Governing Council and “Public Eye” (newsletter of the Forum) have strongly believed that informed citizens make better citizens.
To this end, the Governing Council has arranged a number of events and activities over the years.
Water Harvesting :
A presentation was made by the Eureka Forbes Environment Group on saving water – how to reduce consumption, how to recycle and how to harvest the bountiful monsoon water. With cost-benefit calculations to help residents decide. To this day, no building has made any headway.
Forum's
score: 9 / 10 Residents'
score: 0 / 10
Harnessing Solar Power :
The presentation made by Tata-BP was thorough and detailed and supported by cost-benefit and payback workings to guide decision making by buildings. To this day, no building has made any headway.
Forum's
score: 9 / 10 Residents'
score: 0 / 10
Cable Operators – allies or foes?
Billing and service – two contentious issues that had residents up in arms (figuratively only). It was left to the Governing Council to set up meetings, attend discussions with the television Regulatory Authority of India, propose a rational and transparent billing format. Today (some residents say only because of competition from DTH and other service providers), cable TV service is a non-issue.
Forum's
score: 8 / 10
“Batti Bandh!”
This was the brainchild of a group of four young men. Can citizens all together help save some power in a power starved State. The Governing Council undertook a major campaign to recruit and motivate the buildings numbering about 100 on NSRoad to have “Batti Bandh” for the hour specified on a specified date.
Some buildings joined the movement, but it would have been a heart-warming achievement if all had participated.
Forum's
score: 7 / 10 Citizens'
score: 4 / 10
Knowledge is Power :
Government has given citizens the Right to Information. It is proving one of the most potent forces serving you and you and you. The Governing Council and “Public Eye” have, over a period of time, consistently informed residents of NSRoad on how to use RTI effectively. (The Governing Council also urges everyone not to use RTI for minor or insignificant purposes, because an overload of applications can only choke the flow). The Governing Council itself has used RTI and experienced its benefits.
Forum's
score: 5 / 10
Taking the fight to the Big Boys
The plot next to PDP was being used by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation for its temporary offices. One day, the Governing Council was surprised to see pilings being set deep into the earth for a permanent and large structure for the MSRDC’s offices in South Mumbai.
This was a clear breach of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Rules, apart from a violation of multiple other rules, regulations and laws. The Governing Council took on what seemed a losing battle, but pro-bono support came from a band of lawyers who took up the case. And the Bombay High Court gave its patient ear to the plaint of a small NGO from a corner of the city of Mumbai. The case was won. MSRDC was asked to vacate and restore the land to its earlier state and has not appealed the judgment of the Hon’ble High Court in the Supreme Court.
Forum's
score: 10 / 10
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