BMC-REL in Andheri water war

The civic body says it is unable to lay a water pipeline in Chimatpada because of a high-voltage REL wire; Reliance Energy says it has already moved out most of the wiring

Two major essential service providers in the city, the BMC and Reliance Energy Ltd (REL) are up in arms against each other over the laying of an underground water pipeline in Chimatpada, Andheri (E).
The project of laying the water line, which was approved in 2005 and can bring relief to at least 10,000 residents of the area, has been stuck in a communication tug-of-war between the two agencies, which have now resorted to shooting off letters against each other.
DNA Westcoast has copies of the letters in which the BMC claims that it is not possible for it to lay the 300 mm pipeline, since REL has not cleared the congestion of wires lying beneath the road.
REL, in a letter dated January 2, 2007, responded to the BMC’s 20-month-old appeal. An REL spokesperson said, “We have replied them saying that, we have already shifted our cable which were coming in the alignment of pipe laying work.
One major casting-joint which is still there will be shifted or lifted simultaneously during your work due to space constraint.” In January 2005, to increase water flow to the area around Marol, the civic body decided to lay underground water lines. The project came to a halt following the identification of high-voltage wires crisscrossing Marol junction, particularly at Chimatpada.
Then oral discussions, personal visits from civic officials and letters followed, but “in vain”, the BMC officials say.
Local residents then sought the help of the Right to Information Act (RTI), raising the issue with help from social activist from Ravi Nair, of the NGO, AGNI.
Says Nair, “When I asked the BMC to explain the problem in this project, the answer shocked me, because it stated, “Due to the large numbers of underground utilities, including high voltage wires and heavy vehicular traffic the work could work of Reliance Energy to clear the high voltage wires”.
On the other hand, Deputy Hydraulic Engineer Suresh Khole of the western suburbs, said, “I have to look into the matter. If we have received a reply from Reliance Energy Ltd, we will conduct the work soon.”
Two major essential service providers in the city, the BMC and Reliance Energy Ltd (REL) are up in arms against each other over the laying of an un- derground water pipeline in Chi- matpada, Andheri (E). The project of laying the wa- ter line, which was approved in 2005 and can bring relief to at least 10,000 residents of the area, has been stuck in a com- munication tug-of-war between the two agencies, which have now resorted to shooting off letters against each other. DNA Westcoast has copies of the letters in which the BMC claims that it is not possible for it to lay the 300 mm pipeline, since REL has not cleared the congestion of wires lying be- neath the road. REL, in a letter dated Janu- ary 2, 2007, responded to the BMC’s 20-month-old appeal. An REL spokesperson said, “We have replied them saying that, we have already shifted our ca- ble which were coming in the alignment of pipe laying work. One major casting-joint which is still there will be shifted or lifted simultaneously during your work due to space constraint.” In January 2005, to in- crease water flow to the area around Marol, the civic body decided to lay underground water lines. The project came to a halt following the identifi- cation of high-voltage wires crisscrossing Marol junction, particularly at Chimatpada. Then oral discussions, personal visits from civic officials and letters followed, but “in vain”, the BMC officials say. Local residents then sought the help of the Right to Infor- mation Act (RTI), raising the is- sue with help from social ac- tivist from Ravi Nair, of the NGO, AGNI. Says Nair, “When I asked the BMC to explain the problem in this project, the answer shocked me, because it stated, “Due to the large numbers of underground utilities, including high voltage wires and heavy vehicular traffic the work could work of Reliance Energy to clear the high voltage wires”. On the other hand, Deputy Hydraulic Engineer Suresh Khole of the western suburbs, said, “I have to look into the matter. If we have received a reply from Reliance Energy Ltd, we will conduct the work soon.”