BRIMSTOWAD -Are we being misled?

I feel some thing worng may be happening with regard to BRIMSTOWAD. I have
writen letters to Prithviraj Chauhan, Vilasrao Deshmukh, Johny Joseph and
Ramanand Tiwari with a five page note. I am copying the letter and the note
below. I dont know whether attachments may go through and it may make sense
to copy it into word to read. The pictures I will post seperately. Dont have
them ready in teh right size.

I look forward to the observations from others about drains in their areas.
While the money may be coming from Delhi but it is ultimately money from our
taxes only.

Also I feel the money is being released with the forthcoming elections in
mind.

Regards
Rishi

________________________________________

The letter

Mr. Prithviraj Chauhan 25th September 06
Minister of State
Prime Minsters Office
South Block, Raisina Hill
New Delhi - 1100011

By Register Post AD
Dear Mr. Chauhan,

I read with some discomfort and alarm the recent news about the Center
agreeing to release Rs. 1200 crores for the BRIMSTOWAD project for the
purpose of creating covered storm water drains in the suburbs of Mumbai.

I had prepared a note on 28th July 2006 where I was culminating almost ten
months of my shock of the lack of any debate on the wonderful new storm
water drains which are already finished in most of the suburbs. I am
attaching it for your reading. I am also attaching some pictures showing the
same. Unfortunately I did not release this note for discussion earlier due
to occupation with a lot of other work and a general depression on how we
continue to avoid the essential requirements and how 26/7 has tragically
become a tool for extracting money from the Center rather than a wonderful
opportunity to correct some of our fundamental land use planning and
governance related malaise.

Issues like the protection of our natural wetlands, mangrove forests and
flood basins, which are fundamental to ensure good drainage receives no
discussion far less any support. All that is discussed is thousands of
crores.

As is evident from these photographs the drains are of uniform dimensions
and very good quality (at least finish - time will tell the rest). They are
also providing very good drainage and I having observed many of these places
since a decade can clearly make out that they are effective.

If that is the case then why do we need these additional funds? I am sure
that you will agree that we are an extremely corrupt country and what a
mockery is made of funds in the name of relief and rehabilitation. It is
quite logical that we should take due caution and have extensive public
debate before the funds are finally released.

I hope you take time to go through the note and will be more cautious and
ensure that nothing wrong is happening? I also look forward to your
response.

Yours sincerely,


Rishi Aggarwaal
MESN

Similar letters to:
Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh Chief Minister, Maharashtra
Mr. Ramanand Tiwari Principal Secretary Urban Development Department
Mr. Johnny Joseph Municipal Commissioner, Mumbai

__________________________________________________

The note

BRIMSTOWAD - Are we being misled?

Rishi Aggarwaal
28th July 06

Media reports and general public discussion that is taking place regarding
the storm water drains situation in the city and especially the BRIMSTOWAD
project may be quite incorrect. Article after article talks of how we are
being shortchanged by the Center and how the city's storm water drains need
immediate augmentation and especially the suburbs where there are no covered
underground drains. But nothing could be further from the truth. In the past
2-3 years the suburbs have seen wonderful covered storm water drains with
excellent footpaths on top. Both of which were non-existent till now. What
used to exist were open clogged drains which could neither drain water and
far less allow people to walk over them unless in places where they were
completely filled over and hardened.

I must mention right in the beginning that I am not drawing any conclusions.
I observed that there was some inconsistency in debate regarding a public
issue and hence I decided to present the analysis from my observations.  A
more vigorous debate would help us in getting better insight into this
important issue.

There is paranoia being whipped up by all and sundry and there could be a
potential scam in the offing here. 26th July 05 was a freak incident.
Unfortunately rather than being able to spur the city into correcting some
of the fundamental malaise it might just end up becoming another windfall
for vested venal interests.

The work on augmenting the city's drainage - especially the suburbs - has
been well underway since three years and I think 90 percent is already
complete. But the papers especially have just created this king-kong size
complete misconception on the following accounts:

1. That absolutely nothing has happened on the storm water drains
augmentation
2. That the suburbs are some back of the beyond places which have never seen
something like covered storm water drains
3. That the BRIMSTOWAD project has not seen the light of the day
4. That the BRIMSTOWAD is stuck up because of want of funds
5. That funds from the centre would suddenly solve all the problems and in
fact delay in receiving them is the root cause of all our problems (at least
related to drainage in this context)

Nothing could be further from the truth.

1. Most of the suburbs now have got fantastic covered drains in the past two
years. I stay in Andheri and can take anybody around Andheri (W) and (E) to
show these drains. I have friends in Vile Parle (E) and almost whole of that
place has these new drains. Large portions in Kandivili and Malad have these
new drains. Bandra, Khar and Santacruz are rapidly seeing this drains come
up. Ghatkopar has these drains, Mulund, Bhandup, and Kanjur.

2. I am a very keen observer of things which keep on happening on roads and
in public spaces and have observed with joy the coming up of these new
drains for the past more than two years.

3. It might be the case that in spite of getting new covered storm water
drains flooding still persists but that is a completely different issue all
together which anyways is not in the sphere of discussion at all. Anyways my
observation is that most places where these new drains have been laid, the
difference is beginning to be seen.

4. In 2003 I had met officials in BMC's environment department who had
clearly informed me that BRMSTOWAD getting implemented was just a matter of
time and Rs. 650 crores loan from the World Bank had clearly come in. Then
starting 2004 we had the MMRDA - BMC turf wars starting head on.

5. MMRDA got the responsibility of making most major roads, which included
the responsibility of laying covered 2x2 box drains with footpaths on top. I
don't know whether it was BRIMSTOWAD that was being implemented but the fact
remains that the new drains did start arriving all around. Not only did the
suburbs get wonderful drains but also for the first time they had well laid
footpaths on top. So not only was the drainage problem getting solved but
also that of pedestrian spaces which a lot of us have been fighting about.

6. I would be willing to accept that maybe the drains have not been
completed and gaps are remaining but to get into the completely mindless
frenzy that most people have got into the city is completely illogical.

7. Everybody who doesn't have two bits of knowledge about the city and
doesn't take time to walk along the roads and observe is now as a result of
the incorrect media coverage now demanding that the center release funds for
BRIMSTOWAD thus creating a political support for the same.

8. Why are we making such a big hue and cry over funds from the center? What
about the louts in south Mumbai who will not let an efficient and fair
property taxation system emerge? The city looses more money because a lot of
them pay Rs. 5 a month or so as rents whereas the people in suburbs pay in
thousands. When you are a coward it is easy to create invisible enemies and
blame all our ill on them rather than fight the visible enemy standing next
to you.

9. Finally do we have a scam developing here? If the drains are already in
place then what is the need for these funds from the centre for? At the last
count something like Rs. 1200 crore was being talked about. Such shocking
media articles have been floating around that I am becoming quite worried
that there may be a cartel of 'experts', ex-bureaucrats, current
bureaucrats, politicians and possibly also media editors and journalists who
are kicking up a false furore of the city having a collapsing drainage
system which needs augmenting. When there are thousands of crores of funds
involved any thing can happen. Media certainly doesn't consist of holy cows
only.

Municipal commissioners and Chief Secretaries who are lambasted and
castigated for negligence and not doing their jobs well while they occupy
their post becoming experts and quote just the right kind of things when
retired. What were these guys doing when they were in position? The city
went through major damage when people like Mr. Jamshed Kanga and Mr. D M
Sukhtankar were Municipal Commissioners. In fact the errors of commission
and omission were much higher during their times because we did not have
even a scratch of the kind of civil movement and transparency during the
80's and 90's like we have today. Back then few people even new what a ward
office and what different agencies are forget interacting with them and
getting information.

Does all news need to be so sweeping and generalized? Thus for example why
do we have statements like :

"The second big reason, says Sukhtankar, is large scale encroachment of open
spaces and over-development which ensures there is not enough open space to
hold the storm water till it drains away. This is important since the
suburbs also have several creeks and wetlands, which have been built upon. "
Frankly if you're going to build houses on water bodies then you must expect
to get flooded," says Gupta.

"Chaotic development drowns suburbs"
5th July 06 - Times of India

Somebody has to be naïve and unknowledgeable to believe these things. I am
involved with saving some of these spaces. I would like to know from these
experts that since they have been so clever in being able to identify the
main factors and also relate the cause and effect I presume they would have
some interest in either doing something to solve the malaise or at least be
in touch with those who are solving them.


Then

"BMC slammed for failing rain test"
7th July 06 - Times of India

Civic experts on Thursday slammed the administration for flunking the
monsoon test even on normal rainfall, low rain tide days.

The administrations claims ...........


Mr. Tinnaikar would be wrong on two accounts
1) His statement that very little has happened is completely wrong. I would
like to know whether he travels to the suburbs or just reads newspaper
reports (the same misleading ones) sitting in his South Mumbai residence. I
would like to show him the new drains that have been laid.
2) Assuming that he is not one of the corrupt bureaucrats he still plays
into this lobby which wants to get double money for doing single work by
creating an impression that a former municipal commissioner would certainly
know better.

Mr. Tinnakar is just engaging in good rhetoric which makes for good copy.
Better analysis would be expected from him.


"Thirteen years have passed since the BRIMSTOWAD project was to be
implemented. The report had stated that the flooding and loss of business
during the monsoon would keep increasing in the future."
V Phatak - Ex-Chief Planner, MMRDA


I can list down so many places which have seen improved drainage this year
since the creation of these new drains. This means reduced losses.

Places like Guzder Bund which are mentioned in this report cannot be used to
extrapolate that the same is happening in the rest of the city and hence we
should have the BRIMSTOWAD implemented and hence the Center should give us
Rs. 1200 crores. The Guzder bund issue has far too many other facets to
itself. It would be too simplistic and misleading to call it an issue of
just bad drains. And incidentally that area has also seen the laying of
these new drains.

And then finally

"Centre may fully fund city's drain project"
24th July 06 Times of India - Clara Lewis

So after the frenzy has been built up finally it is used as a good political
imperative in the 'larger interest of the city' to release funds from the
center. Mr. Joseph needs to first let us know what are these new drains
which I have been seeing all across the suburbs are and what is he going to
spend the money on if the drains are already there. He also needs to let us
know where the Rs. 7000 crore budget of BMC goes and whether any provision
is made in those for small things like pumping stations at Irla and Mogra
which can be done immediately.

Also Mogra and Irla nullahs both see extensive encroachments on their sides
and hutments continuously pack their wastes into plastic bags and throw them
into these (and others across the city) nullahs. Carrying out a campaign to
change their behavior doesn't require crores. But that's the reason maybe
via it isn't discussed and doesn't make it to the papers.

__________________________________

HC Blasts BMC for ignoring 26/7 lessons
DNA July 6th 06 - Anshika Mishra

How can the HC blast only the BMC? It should know better about the BMC-MMRDA
clash and that BMC is not the only authority in charge. Even besides that
how can it be said:

"The Bombay high court on Wednesday reprimanded the BMC for pothole-ridden
roads and water-logging in the city.

Hearing a clutch of PILs filed last year on the pathetic condition of roads
and the poor drainage system after the 26/7 deluge, judges RM Lodha and SJ
Vajifdar said nothing seemed to have changed over the year."

A lot has changed.


I can very confidently also say that even after the suburbs have been made
after flouting all planning norms and over wetlands and stuff it is still
very  much possible to prevent flooding and the BMC very much has the funds
for that.

And forget the question of funds. How due you explain flooding which take
place because the edges of the road are higher than the main carriage way,
or when the drain is raised above the road. There is no shortage of
instances in the suburbs where these new drains have been created and the
shoulder portions have been paved with paver blocks which rather than being
low and sloping downwards towards the drain end up sloping upwards thus
preventing water from flowing into the drain. It is this kind of negligence
and incompetence of the engineers that needs to be highlighted. We don't
need Rs. 1200 crores for rectifying these kind of things.

When will these experts and reporters take up these issues not requiring any
additional crores? Are some of them part of the scam?

We can solve the problems if we probe beneath the surface. We have been
lethargic in taking an area by area approach choosing to engage in
generalist arguments.



Mumbai Environmental Social Network
www.mesn.org