News & Pics by Ancy Paladka
Daijiworld Media Network- Mumbai(SP)
Mumbai, Oct 22: The 90-feet road in Jarimari used to be always occupied by parking vehicles, loading goods, encroachment by hutments etc and ultimately and therefore, the width of the road was reduced to just nine feet. There were also other problems like traffic, drainage, garbage, bus routes and it adversely affected the localites with daily accidents, deaths, mosquitoes, traffic jams etc.
To resolve this problem and to catch the attention of the authorities concerned,the "Satya Seva Samstha" organised a "hunger strike" from September 29 onwards. Babu Bateli (president), Sudhakar Shirsekar (treasurer), Kailash Agwane (secretary) along with committee Members Flora D'Souza (Filu Kalmady), Chaya Mayekar, Suman Anasane and Tayappa Narsappa participated in the hunger strike.
Walter DSouza on behalf of traders, Jagruti Kendra (Mahila Mandal) of St Jude's Church, Jerimeri, Chandra Prasad Gupta, DSouza Nagar and many other Kreeda Mandals(sports bodies), political leaders like Dilip Lande-Shivsena, Sharad Pawar-NCP local Leader Kambli of Shetkari Kamgar Union, Parminder Singh, Seva Dal president principals of surrounding schools, St Jude's High School,Eden Garden School and College, Yogiraj High School, Lok Manya Tilak High School, Anjuman Urdu Medium High School and all the local residents of 90 Ft road supported this strike.
As a result, the police officers came forward to end the hunger strike and promised to act immediately. They held several meetings with the Sathya Seva Samstha members and accepted their memorandum. They also gave a written copy of the meetings to all the agitating members. Sabhde, deputy commissioner of Mumbai police traffic division, Mumbai suburban, Mirza Baig, assistant police commissioner of the Mumbai police, Mumbai(w) traffic division, Sayyed, senior Police Commissioner, Mumbai Police traffic division., MHADA, Sakinaka, Narsingh Sherkhan, Assistant police commisioner, Mumbai Police traffic division MHADA, Sakinaka and Yeshwant Vhatkar, senior police commissioner attended the meetings.
Apart from the police, Kamble, assistant engineer, BMC, 'L' Ward,Kurla, Babu Bateli, and various members and represenatives of agitating organizations took part in these meetings.
As a result, a notice was served on the concerned transporters not to load/unload goods on the road between 9 to 12 am and 5 to 8 pm. The DCP ordered for the creation of a zebra crossing near St Jude's High School and Yogiraj High School. He also instructed the traffic police to increase fine from Rs.100 to 1200 for illegal parking of vehicles on this road. The BMC was instructed to take appropriate action regarding garbage disposal, cleanliness and illegal use of roads by shops etc. DCP also instructed the traffic police, police and BMC to work in co-ordination with MMRDA, to provide necessary facilities/help as per the memorandum submitted by Sathya Seva Samstha. The Mumbai police traffic division have since fined more than 200 vehicles for illegal parking on this road and towed away many vehicles. The situation in the 90 feet road has imporoved a lot. Already the illegal structures have been demolished, illegal parkings have been reduced drastically and there is a smooth movement of the traffic on this road.