Shastri Nagar residents protest against illegal electric cabin

During the past few months it is alleged that a political party worker has been on a signature campaign from residents of Shastri Nagar chawls towards construction of unauthorized proposed electric cabin work behind Mohammadi Masjid, Shastri Nagar, Kalina. The construction of a proposed unauthorized electric cabin is alleged to take place after demolishing garbage dustbin constructed by Mahanagar Palika’s Fund at Shastrinagar. While, clarifying with Alice Therattil on this unauthorized and illegal construction, she clarified with Santacruz Patrika and said, “I regret to inform that construction of unauthorized proposed electric cabin’s work is in progress at Shastrinagar behind Mohammadi Masjid.  There are three public toilets having no .164, 165, 166 on the surrounding and their entrance has been blocked.  There is no vehicle entry passage near this proposed electric cabin and serious complaints have been received from the nearby public residents.”

Addressing further Alice said, “The construction of illegal electric cabin is extremely hazardous as if any fire or explosion takes place the entire toilets will be blown up and a  serious  fear has came into the minds of  surrounding residents.” To stop the unauthorized work Alice Therattil had informed N.W. Lalwaney, Asst. Municipal Commissioner, H/E Ward who expressed his unawareness of the permission for the above mentioned work.  Thereafter, Alice informed Mr. J.S. Gheagadmal, A/E Maintenance and Mr. Anirao, Sub Engineer Maintenance and learned that they too were not aware of this illegal work. Further, she had also corresponded with Sudhir Naik, DMC Zone III and Krishna Shenoy, Gen. Manager, Reliance Infrastructure Ltd and is awaiting their clarification.

But while surveying the site and speaking to a cross section of residents they told Santacruz Patrika, “There is already an electric transformer a few metres away and we do not understand the need of installing another electric transformer in front of the toilets.” Another resident in disgust admitted, “It was sometime ago BJP workers of our area made us participate in a protest rally against Reliance Infrastructure inflated electric bills. But to our dismay so far nothing has materialized and on the contrary after the BJP protests the electric bills instead of reducing is on the increase. We innocent have been fooled.” Another resident echoed, “Since we have been receiving exorbitant electric bills from Reliance Infrastructure, many of the residents have been shifting over to Tata Power. This probably could be the intention of these workers to get an electric transformer of Reliance Infrastructure.”

While confirming if the installation of an electric transformer is of Reliance Infrastructure, a resident responded and said, “When workers had come to carry out their activities we confirmed their identity.” Finally, all voiced their anger and said, “When we innocent are taken by BJP workers to vent our protest against inflated electric bills, why install another gigantic transformer near our toilets and put us in danger and inconvenience.”