The memory of the citizens' struggle to free the pavement from the clutches of 'Sadguru' was just beginning to fade when the same citizens of TPS 111 were called upon to thwart the efforts of a restaurant from grabbing the pavement in front of its premises, a stone's throw away from the previous venue of ill-fame. Is there no rest for the wicked?
By now experience has taught us that like the proverbial mice that play when the cat is away, illegal activity is let loose during any public holidays, BMC’s official days off. So on 25th January, hours away from the celebration of India's Republic Day, as dusk was falling the worshippers returning from the evening service at the nearby church were aghast at being driven to the center of the busy main road because their pavement was vigorously being dug up by a group of men supervised by the restaurant manager.
For some time now the citizens had patiently turned a Nelson’s eye to the 24 hour noisy renovation of the premises, erection of a 9-10 feet high wall in violation of law. The inconvenience of supply vehicles blocking the road, bags of cement piled on the pavement, noise pollution in the night and even the rubble generated by the renovators thrown around the locality had nearly pushed them to the edge of sanity. Live and let live, said the peace-loving citizens. But this was the last straw- grabbing their pavement! Do they have to fight to live, walk and even breathe when the country was known to be run by a government 'of the people by the people and for the people'?
On questioning, the restaurant manager, a hefty chap with shifty eyes and a condescending attitude revealed that they were "repairing a leaking gas pipe"! The news spread like wild fire and the alarmed citizens began rushing to the spot to gauge the situation. Questions flew around- Where was the work order? Why did the Mahanagar Gas company that strictly abides by its own work ethics permit these unskilled labourers employed by the restaurant to tamper with the gas pipe? The public ire soon turned into a rage and messages flew around to the Ward Corporator and the local police station....the Corporator sent her PA and the police sent two unwilling and lethargic personnel least interested in heeding the public call!
Money can buy loyalty, even leading to crime- the photographic proof of the men digging up the pavement did not deter the manager from issuing a statement that a truck had damaged the pavement! What? Do the citizens looking on in dismay resemble invisible aliens to this man? After much noise, arguments and timely action, the battle was won...not the war though.
Ultimately a lot of pressure tactics in this election year were needed not only to halt the work but to persuade the police to take heed of the complaint. Two of the labourers were randomly picked up to be taken to the police station, while the renovation work inside continued unhindered under the benign gaze of the police! The pavement was haphazardly repaired and saved....till when?
Many questions arise here- Is the politician-builder nexus rapidly growing in strength for the lack of any action by an elected government? Are the police serving the rich and the famous and ignoring their duty at the cost of such rampant lawlessness? Is it time for the rest of the snoozing citizens to wake up and save their city from being siphoned off from under their very feet?
Jago re....Jago!
- Vera Alvares
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