BJP worker from Kalina a 'Dalal' of BMC

A huge banner for all seasons. Conveying all messages of no relevance. Airport Authority Zopadpatti Bachao. Best wishes for Diwali, Eid, Christmas & New Year.

It is a no denying that Corruption in India is at its rampant best.There is not one section of the society that is spared from it. Corruption in the form of bribery takes the cake and given that it begins at the grass root level makes it even more difficult to monitor and control. The striking though well known findings of a detailed report points out that close to half the bribes are requested by the Government officials both at the state and national level.The same government personnel who are entrusted with the development of the nation are filling their own pockets.No wonder then the nation’s politicians are the most corrupt lot. The cost of corruption to the country might as well exceed Rs. 250,000 crores.  The general perception on corruption is that only rich in India get their work done by way of corruption. However, recent study shows that the poorest (Below poverty line – BPL) Janta too pay bribes in big numbers. A TII-CMS India Corruption Study shows that below poverty line households paid more than 883,00,00,000 (883 crore rupees) to avail basic services like Public Distribution systems, hospitals, school education, electricity and water supply.
The BJP has gone on a mass campaign to fight against corruption. But it is a shame that they do not practise what they preach. It is aleged that their District Secretary Anil Upadhyay is involved in mass scale corrupt activities. From an ordinary rickshaw driver this BJP secretary today roams in swanky car. It is alleged that he has been instrumental in the construction of illegal 1+1 slums in Kalina. While speaking to Santacruz Patrika, Kripa Pandey, Congress Block President 49 clarified, "His modus operandi is simple. He regularly visits the BMC H/E office and is found most of the day sitting with BMC officials. He collects money from parties and bribes the BMC officials and manages to construct illegal structures." He further adds, " His is a multi strategy wherein the officials are bribed and illegal structures are protected. Later he lodges a complaint for demolition and again bribes the officials to stop the demolition." "Many genuine parties are deprived of meeting the BMC officials because Upadhyay as a 'Dalal' of BMC is most of the time engaged with the officials who have no time to attend genuine complaints. Also, it is noticed that these BMC officials are in the office till late night entertaining Upadhyay," admits Pandey. In this regard Pandey says that he has lodged various complaints to BMC wherein no work in the constituency  is taking place as the BMC officials are busy involved in underhand deals. Finally,  because of no action being taken by BMC H/E ward I took up the matter with MLA Kripashankar Singh. Immediately, Kripashankar had a meeting with the DMC in the presence of AMC and other officials and immediate action was initiated against Upadhyay.
Further, Civic chief Subodh Kumar asked all additional municipal commissioners to personally ensure illegal hoardings are pulled down without any delay. Kumar held a BMC top brass meeting and later told media, "We will remove all illegal hoardings immediately. Even those which have been issued permission will be scrutinised. We will check whether hoardings have been placed at a place allotted to them." A civic official said, "It was decided that permissible hoardings will be allotted specific locations after traffic police are consulted. The civic commissioner insisted zero tolerance towards illegal hoardings." Supervisors from BMC's Licence Department will visit their allotted areas daily to ensure hoardings don't come back. It will be ward officers' responsibility to see to it that civic chief's diktat is carried out said Kumar.
"Also, in this regard we had written letters to BMC H/E and requested them to remove all illegal hoardings, banners and cutouts. But somehow the oficials have been lenient to the huge 40'x40' hoardings of which Anil Upadhyay is associated.. Finally, with the intervention  of MLA Kripashankar, all illegal hoardings were  pulled down."emphasised Pandey. "This angered him and he took out a morcha to BMC with false allegations that illegal activities in the area are a hand-work of Kripashankar. We immediately protested the false allegations of Upadhyay and took out a huge morcha of about 750 workers. Later, we  approached the Vakola Police station and lodged a complaint against him. We were assured  by the Sr PI that after interrogations action will be taken against him", confirmed Pandey.
It is learnt that hardly  15-20 people  participated  in the morcha taken out by Upadhyay. When confirming with a senior leader of BJP, he clarified with Santacruz Patrika and said,"The morcha call by Upadhyay was not a call by the BJP Party. It was an individual problem of his and the BJP party was not responsible.  Secondly, since it was not a party issue no BJP party worker participated in the morcha. Further, since he is not following the decorum of the  party, senior party  workers boycott his  programmes."
Also, while clarifying with the Alice Therattil, corporator of the area in regards to rampant illegal constructions in Kalina she spoke to Santacruz Patrika and clarified, "We have on several ocassions reported these matters to BMC but they have not been taking any action. As far as possible I have prevented many illegal constructions in my ward. Also, the 1+2 structure of Anil Upadhyay at Shastri Nagar is illegal and I have reported  this to BMC. The BMC squad had come to demolish the illegal structure but after knowing that it is of Anil Upadyay they went back without demolishing." Such is the lethargic response from BMC", complained Alice.
With the bone of contention being illegal hoardings, we have at least now, politicians will wake up and realise they should not take the city for granted. A Bombay High Court judgment stated that citizens could invoke and "certainly claim their fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 21 (right to life) to a clean environment free of any defacement". Garbage, sewage problems, bad roads, debris in streets, sick and homeless people... let politicians focus on these issues. Banners serve nothing except inflate ego of some people. But that's not an achievement, we have elected them to work for us. Also, we are not interested in knowing their birthdays which their chamchas want to announce and celebrate. Why can't political parties donate clothes and food to the needy to celebrate their leaders' birthday? At last, Mumbai will be rid of illegal hoardings. These netas thought the city is their property. Illegal hoardings are a nuisance. Merely paying hoarding charges cannot make something legal. And there should be a NOC from the RTO certifying that the hoarding is not a hindrance to citizens. Rules should be framed for to ensure that the BMC does issue arbitrary permits, legitimizing hoardings. The BMC seems to be either a part of the game or scared of politicians. We want action now! We must question the concerned BMC officials why no proper action is being taken. It gets very annoying to see banners of random people in your lane. If some chamchas are happy about their neta's birthday, they can go celebrate amongst themselves. It's strange how the BMC turns a blind eye to this. Party workers take permission for 50 hoardings and put up 500.
With the BMC H/E ward become a den for "Dalals" and hardly any public work performed, Kripa Pandey has sent out a 20-point programme for immediate implementation to BMC and local MLA Kripashankar Singh. The following is the memorandum:
1. Cleaning of nallah from Chirekhan Nagar to Niron Hospital and passing through Police ground
2.  Cleaning of Gutter from P&T Colony through Asghar Ali Compound, Khandwala Society, BMC Dispensary, Om Chamunda Society to Dhobighat
3. Cleaning of gutter and garbage from Yeshwant Nagar, Srikrishna Nagar to Hans Bhugra Marg
4. Cleaning of gutter from Gaondevi Ganesh Nagar, D'Mello Compound, Nanjivan Society to Airport wall. Also removal of garbage piled near the wall of Airport.
5. Cleaning of gutter of Valmiki Nagar and removal of garbage near BMC ground.
6. Cleaning of gutters at Yeshwant Nagar and Kolovery Village.
7. Cleaning of sewerage line from P&T Colony to Vakola Bridge.
8. The work on the boundaries of both sides of Vakola Nalah lying incomplete for long.
9. Cleanliness of undergroung subway at Vakola signal and Mahakali Mandir.
10. Regular removal of illegal hoardings, banners, cutouts irrespective of any political party or Sanstha in H/E Ward. Also., removal of illegal Vachnalay's installed at various places in H/E ward.
11. Removal of hawkers and re-locating them from Santacruz Railway overbridge and outside Railway station. The Hawkers near Radhakrishna Sweet Mart, near BEST bus Depot has been creating hardships to free movement of passengers..
12. Cleanliness of Bastis is negligble and should be done regularly for hygienic purposes.
13. The work on Mithi river bridge is going on at extremely slow pace. Santacruz Patrika in its last issue had raised this lethargy.
14. The potholes near Airport Gate No 8 be filled.
15. Most of the public toilets in the slums are not cleant and maintained regularly which stinks. Also, many of the doors of these toilets are broken and not replaced.
16. Repair work of damaged road from Vakola Bridge to Dattamandir, Glass Factory to Hanuman Mandir, Nehru Road. Also Old CST Road, near Hotel Geeta Vihar till Shivnagar.
17. In many slum areas because of illegal water conections through joints, the water leaks causing overflow in the gutters and inconvenience to the slumdwellers. Instead of the old thin pipes it is suggested to replace them with either a 3-inch or 6-inch  pipe which will ensure free flow water to slums and eliminate the many pipe joints. These are required in areas like Shastrinagar, Chirekhan Nagar, Valmiki Basti, P.K.Tiwari Chawl, Viena Bakery, Nagdevi Nagar, Jamblipada, Netaji Nagar and Gaondevi.
18. Installing a public toilet between Geeta Vihar and Air India Colony.
19. Rajiv Gandhi Jal Kendra near Vakola Police Station was  illegaly used as a Chinese Dhaba. A water supply for public  use to be re-installed.
20. Encroached footpaths with shops to be removed and the gutter underneath made accessible for cleanliness.