A
STAFF REPORTER | Tuesday, April 06, 2004
12:10:14 IST
Gavanpada residents
vouch for their favourite MP who has been
to their aid many a time
Kirit Somaiya
has reasons to smile. More so after his early
intervention to resolve a major environmental
crisis in Gavanpada, a small village in suburban
Chembur. Kirit Somaiya, the sitting Member
of Parliament (MP) and Bhartiya Janata Party
candidate from Mumbai North-East constituency
that starts from his home turf in Mulund to
Trombay including Chembur is a tough contender
to Congress heavy-weight Gurudas Kamat. Residents
attribute Somaiya's rising popularity to an
incident in the month of January this year.
Pandharinath
Raghav Mhatre (66), a prominent figure among
locals in Gavanpada says, "My family
has lived here for generations together. With
polluting factories in the vicinity, it feels
as if we are sitting on a volcano that might
erupt any moment from now." He shudders
at the mere mention about the silicon shower
from the adjoining Hindustan Petroleum Corporation
Limited (HPCL), "The silica dust showers
from the HPCL factory camouflaged the entire
area in a layer of white powder. Many stray
animals died as a result of the downpour."
Repeated appeals to the company officials
fell on deaf ears. But Mathre adds with pride,
"Kirit Somaiya came to this tiny hamlet
with a population of 15,000 families on learning
about our plight. He held talks with officials
and they assured that the 'shower would stop'.
And it indeed has."
Locals like the Anand Patil (65) are annoyed
with the lack of concern displayed by other
politicians. Patil fumes, "Despite living
in Chembur he (Gurudas Kamat) didn't turn
up to help. Neither did the local Corporator
and MLA from our area. It is understood whom
we are going to vote in the approaching assembly
polls to be held on April 26." The problems
of the villagers are far from over. The HPCL
hasn't conducted a medical camp for a long
time. "They are waiting for a major disaster
to strike us to wake up and aid us. It's been
two and half months since the incident occurred
and the people are amused as to why the company
stopped the medical camps now. Add to this
the steep medical costs. Doesn't the company
have any social responsibility?" asks
the balding Patil.
Electric poles along the roads is yet another
issue that bothers the people of Gavanpada.
"Due to non-availability of electric
poles on this stretch of road leading to our
village, accidents are regular feature. Electricity
Board is waiting for the guard bars to be
installed, as promised by HPCL. Nothing has
been done."
Anther major issue is need for an overhead
bridge. With issues ranging from minor to
serious like the 'silicon shower', it is obvious
that the people will vote only to the person
who represents them in the truest sense of
the word. "Kirit aapla manus aahey,"
sums up Mhatre.
Pandharinath
Raghav Mhatre (66), a prominent figure among
locals in Gavanpada says, "My family
has lived here for generations together. With
polluting factories in the vicinity, it feels
as if we are sitting on a volcano that might
erupt any moment from now." He shudders
at the mere mention about the silicon shower
from the adjoining Hindustan Petroleum Corporation
Limited (HPCL), "The silica dust showers
from the HPCL factory camouflaged the entire
area in a layer of white powder. Many stray
animals died as a result of the downpour."
Repeated appeals to the company officials
fell on deaf ears. But Mathre adds with pride,
"Kirit Somaiya came to this tiny hamlet
with a population of 15,000 families on learning
about our plight. He held talks with officials
and they assured that the 'shower would stop'.
And it indeed has."
