Elections – right time to interact with politicians

It is anticipated that after the Lok Sabha elections, the Vidhan Sabha elections will take place after the monsoon, followed by Municipal Corporation elections. Elections provide an opportunity to discuss local issues faced by residents with representatives from political parties. The goal is to ask political parties to address the concerns by taking the necessary decisions in the right forum or implementing policies that will effect change.

In conclusion, as citizens and voters, we have the right to choose and elect a candidate of our choice. Our country is frequently referred to as the world’s largest democracy. However, elections and politics are not always as simple, and what happens in reality might differ considerably. That is why Elections are widely known as the ‘Dance of Democracy’. 

Last election, the BJP and Shiv Sena fought together, and Shri Arvind Sawant, the sitting MP, is a Shiv Sena member. This election each will go their separate ways and run their own candidates. The Shiv Sena has opted to continue with Shri Arvind Sawant as its candidate. The BJP has not yet decided on a candidate at the time when this article went to print. It is reported that it will be either our Malabar Hill MLA, Shri Mangal Prabhat Lodha, or Shri Rahul Narwekar, the Colaba MLA and Speaker of the State Assembly.

Certain issues can be addressed to political parties campaigning for their candidates, or the candidate himself might hold meetings with citizens to interact with them and gain their support for his nomination.

1. Real estate development initiatives in the Hills have recently become a major concern. Our area has the highest real estate prices. There are many old buildings, some of which need to be redeveloped and others that are structurally sound. There are numerous redevelopment projects in the works. Because of the high cost of properties, many people choose redevelopment because it provides them with more space and amenities. We have to consider it as a necessity rather than a luxury. Many residents are concerned about the stability of our hills due to landslides, the coastal road tunnel beneath the hill, and the weight of the century-old water reservoir. New high-rise building with additional FSI will necessitate stronger foundations and increased construction activity. Actually, the real estate development is governed by Development Control Rules, which govern and determine all specifics. So, an expert committee must be formed to conduct research on the stability of the hills, followed by revisions or amendments to the Rules based on the findings. This is only conceivable if it is taken seriously by politicians who will win the election and represent local citizens. So the winning candidate needs to be someone who will address this issue with maturity.

2. We are still waiting for BMC’s conclusion on the Malabar Hill water reservoir reconstruction issue. A large number of trees were intended to be removed to facilitate the new development. Then, an expert committee was constituted to decide whether to restore or repair the reservoir. The committee is said to have agreed to repair rather than reconstruction, but IIT engineers on the committee believe that in order to keep the water supply running while repairing the old tanks, new water tanks will need to be built. However, the much-awaited final judgement on this is still pending from BMC.

3. Vehicle parking has become a serious issue in our neighbourhood, prompting traffic authorities to implement new no-parking restrictions. Residents have attempted to resolve their parking difficulties through communication and contact with Traffic and BMC officials; however, no tangible solution has been achieved. Hanging Garden is located on the top of our hill, therefore tourists and morning and evening walkers must use vehicles to get there. The lack of parking near the garden has caused numerous issues, and unless the rules are revised, access to our city’s historic garden will be difficult. This issue will have to be remedied by elected representatives exercising their rights by requesting that the relevant authorities to solve the problem.

4. Recently, the coastal road became partially operational. The remaining work will be completed soon so that it is fully operational. The BMC has built open spaces on reclaimed land, which will be transformed into gardens and amenities for our city’s citizens. Our city definitely needs open playgrounds for our young generation to play field sports, this reclaimed land give BMC that opportunity. The citizens’ access to these open spaces must be finalised properly so that it creates minimum traffic bottlenecks. BMC has claimed that it will create considerable number of vehicle parking spaces. To maximise the use of the open areas, the BMC will need to consult local citizens. Our political representatives must take the effort to ensure that everything goes well.

5. The State Government’s recent decision to renew the RWITC land lease and take possession of a portion of the land in order to construct a theme park. The government aims to develop a world-class theme park for the city’s residents. Many citizens have voiced their desire that the Race Course area not be taken over and let it remain as it is now, with people using and enjoying this big open space.

6. There are many civic issues which are area specific requiring civic amenities like better – roads, water supply, sewerage systems, traffic issues and others. These issues must be addressed with the political parties that will be campaigning for their candidates.  

Residents are urged to participate and address these issues properly for resolution to get better civic amenities which is their right and to vote for the appropriate candidate who will strive for the betterment of our neighbourhood.

Politicians have taken steps to address local issues raised by residents. Veteran BJP MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha took keen interest in the Malabar Hill Reservoir reconstruction issue. He has attended and organised meetings with people and municipal officials to find a solution and as local MLA his involvement continues in other problems. MLA Rahul Narwekar recently met with residents who are concerned about the Race Course property takeover and assured them of his support for the cause. 

When election campaigning begins, meetings with politicians will increase and residents should step forward to express their views. Many WhatsApp groups have been formed to address these and other civic issues, and they can participate and become involved as active citizens. Now is the time to act for our common good and effect constructive change for our neighbourhood.

(Editorial Committee of ‘The Voice of Malabar Hills’)