Kalina Villagers protest to construction of toilet adjacent to Grotto

It was as late as 1959 when a sacred grotto housing Mother Mary's statue at Kalina Village was set up, where hundreds of devotees offer their prayers everyday. The grotto set up is adjoining the BMC toilets. While speaking to local residents, they told Santacruz Patrika, “More than 50 years ago the spot was used for dumping garbage. This used to create a lot of inconvenience to the residents of the village as the stinking garbage used to flow onto the entry passage to the village.” “Initially, we installed a small statue and villagers used to offer prayers. Later, as the garbage was an hinderance we renovated the grotto to beautify the area. Later, with the BMC four toilets creating an unpleasant environment we spent about Rs 32,000 and fully renovated the grotto.”

Now, it is understood that the BMC's plans to construct a public toilet through a builder, near the grotto. This has hurt the religious sentiments of the Christian community and they have raised a protest against public toilets near the grotto. "We have our annual feast of Mother Mary in September where thousands of Christians come to offer their prayers at the grotto. There Is a St. Thomas Church nearby where masses are conducted and a prayer meeting is held every evening.

The question that arises is – What is the need of a public toilet adjacent to the grotto? A angered villager to Santacruz Patrika, “When our entire village residents have their toilets indoors, we fail to understand the need of a public toilet? While investigating we learnt that one Akbar Quereshi had demolished a public toilet and constructed a two-storied building on the site near Wellcare Hospital. In order to get the occupation certificate (OC) for that structure, he had to fulfill the BMC's condition by constructing a public toilet. So, the builder is constructing it near the grotto.  Since his project has been stalled Quereshi has been desperately looking for a site to construct a public toilet. It was learnt that six months ago he had planned to construct a toilet near the demolished police chowkie at Jamblipada. But was stalled by the earlier corporator Rafiq Sheikh.

While speaking to Rafiq’s assistant, as Rafiq Sheikh is away on a pilgrimage to Haj, told Santacruz Patrika, “When Quereshi began constructing a toilet at Jamblipada, many villagers and shop owners came to our office to raise their protest. After visiting the site Rafiq Sheikh objected against the construction and got the work stalled.” Thereafter, while speaking to the local corporator Alice Therattil, she told this publication, “ I have also strongly protested against the construction of the public toilet by the builder. Initially, when he tried to construct a toilet near St. Mary Chowk I stopped the work. Later, when I came to know that he is constructing a toilet at Jamblipada, I strongly protested and sent out correspondence to all the concerned departments. Thereafter, inorder to prevent any illegal encroachment at that spot we fought for a bus stop and ensured that a bus stop came up at the spot for the benefit of my ward.” We have complained to ward officer," said local corporator Alice Therratil. However, when assistant commissioner, H(East) ward A Wagaralkar was questioned, he said, "I'm aware of this complaint. I'll inquire into the matter."Also, Alice Therattil clarified that when she visited the grotto along with Wagaralkar, there was no work being carried out of construction of a toilet. “However, the villagers assumed that a toilet is likely to be constructed adjacent to the grotto, which is totally false and baseless.” 

Further, while speaking to Crompton Texeira, Sarpanch of the village he told Santacruz Patrika, “We have learnt that the public toilet is being constructed adjacent to the grotto by a builder, at the request of the BMC's building proposal department, to legalize his own unauthorized structure. Confirming further he added, “ I have spoken to BMC in this regard and an officer who preffered to remain anonymous clearly stated that in consultation with the local corporator a public toilet is proposed to be set up adjacent to the grotto with doors facing outside and the toilets inside the BMC compound. This intimation I received a week ago that work is to commence.” Further, a resident too confirmed that labourers had come to carry out the work but we chased them away. However, Alice Therattil claims that she is unaware of any proposal for setting up a toilet near the grotto and all the allegations are baseless and maligned.

Lastly, while speaking to Santacruz Patrika, Ronnie Miranda who resides behind the grotto and BMC compound said, “The corporator should be more considerate towards the welfare of our villagers. The sewerage of the four toilets for BMC labourersin the compound every morning keeps overflowing and the stinking water flows into the village. And the only toilet for staff has its outlet to the mains. Because of the stink my wife had to be hospitalized of dengue.”

Now, there are many questions that remain unanswered: How was the public toilet opposite Wellcare hospital demolished and a building constructed? Has the building being constructed in all legalities? Before giving permission why was the spot for a toilet not determined? Santacruz Patrika in the near future will bring out a detailed and investigative story.