Mumbai - everyone has an opinion

There are a lot of ongoing discussions and debates regarding a variety of topics related to Mumbai ranging from the closure of "dance bars" to the "rehabilitation of slum dwellers" and the "hawking menace". As Kushwant Singh once stated, "Opinions are like asses; everybody has one". Similarly, for these topics, everyone has some opinion or the other.

But, what is really puzzling is for people "unaware" of the total factual matter to comment on these topics. Most of the people offering comments or suggestions live outside Mumbai. For example, the "Supreme Court" passed some order related to hawkers in Mumbai; bar girls went to Sonia with their problems; Laloo Prasad Yadav (staying as far as in Bihar) offered comments related to Mumbai dance bars. Quite strange. The press, too, is filled with all such comments.

Wonder on what basis they form their comments. Note also that some of the Maharashtra government decisions could be made in Delhi (on behest of Sonia Gandhi). Most often than not, some influential guys can turn the decision to whatever they want.

The opinions of the Mumbaikar, on the other hand, hardly matter to Mumbai. Even as most Mumbaikars are kept busy in their race (to earn money), most of the average Mumbaikars will be forced to gulp down decisions they really are against.

Makes me wonder if there is a need to form an association (or union) of the "Rest Of Mumbai" (something similar to the "Rest Of India" cricket team). This union can then have the voice of the "real Mumbaikar".

Where are the gutters?

Gutter: A channel at the edge of a street or road for carrying off surface water.

Ever wondered why even the slightest rains result in water-logging and traffic snarls in Mumbai. The standard argument that we hear is regarding the tides ("there is a high tide, so the sewage system does not pump out effectively into the sea").

I have a different opinion: Next time there is a water-logging, take a look at either side to see if the gutters are overflowing. Chances are they are not; even more chances are that there are no gutters at all.

Reasons for water-logging:

1. The water from the road does not move into the gutter (maybe the road is not built to specifications to slope into the gutter, but more likely that there is no clear way for the water to enter the gutter).
2. The drain is filled with all sorts of solid waste (another reason why hawkers should go).
3. And, finally, drains cease to exist on the road.

After having observed a few roads during the monsoon, I found that certain roads were prone to water logging simply because they did not have a gutter at all. Consider the road outside "Kobe Sizzlers" near Saki Naka. When the building came up, they built pretty plant holders (maybe to keep hawkers at bay), but in the process, "forgot" to build the gutter. Result: there is no gutter on the Andher Kurla road outside "Kobe Sizzlers". Naturally, the water will not go anywhere, but remain on the road.

Now, consider some roads where the gutters not only exist, but are also about 4 to 5 feet deep. Not once have I observed water being logged (this is despite the fact that the area is low-lying due to the slopy nature of these areas).

Other causes of obstruction for the water to enter the gutter include our "friends" - the dumpers that illegally dispose off the debris of construction sites in or near the gutters.

It would seem that if a common man is able to observer these things, it must definitely be visible to the people whose job it is to ensure the cleaniness and upkeep of the roads. But, then who said that "common sense" is common (especially these days)?

Land Grab : The most senseless argument

Mumbai has been experiencing a very severe "land grab" problem. It would seem to be a very organised scheme. People (who probably do not have houses in Mumbai) start occupying public or government property and then start extending "their land". Quite suddenly, there is a huge colony and a housing society set up and no one can do anything about it.

One hears a very common argument from the slum dwellers side: that they have been staying at the location since X years. This, according to me, is the most senseless argument.

I give a counter example. A thief keeps stealing without getting caught for say 15 years. He gets caught one day. Would it be correct if he says that since he been stealing for the past 15 years, it is his "right" to continue doing so?

Think about it.

Now, now...I am not against "free housing" or some "low-cost housing scheme" for the economically backward. But, these schemes must be planned and people can't be housed wherever they wish (on the middle of the roads, sleeping on pavements, near the tracks, etc.). So do not get me wrong.

Welcome to "Mee Mumbaikar"

Hello everyone,
A very warm welcome to the "Mee Mumbaikar" blog. This blog is intended to contain discussions regarding Mumbai and India.

Although the name of the blog resembles a "campaign" started by the Shiv Sena, this site has nothing to do with Shiv Sena.

The posts found in this blog might tend to be a bit biased, though. But these are just opinions and not necessarily all stated things are facts. In fact, most of the posts will tend to be (what I want to call) an "armchair view". To make things explicitly clear, the posts on this blog are not verified facts; they are just opinions formed of reading various newspapers and media reports.

A healthy discussion is always welcome and people are free to put forth other ideas. I will also have no qualms in accepting that some of the opinions that I had stated are incorrect.