NO WATER FOR MHADA FLATS AT MIRA ROAD

Owing to scarcity of water supply MBMC Mayor has expressed the corporation's inability to provide water connection to new flats constructed in Mira Road A WEEK after 1,726 lottery winners are rejoicing after winning flats in Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority's (MHADA) annual lottery scheme, water woes are likely to dampen their spirits. The housing body has received a letter from the mayor of Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) stating that his corporation won't be able to supply water to the MHADA flats allotted to lottery winners in Mira Road. Last week MHADA allotted 2,593 homes of which 1,726 are located in Mira Road. Tulsidas Mhatre, mayor of MBMC, said, " I have written a letter to MHADA clearly indicating to them that MBMC is not in a position to supply water to new dwellers. We had also warned them earlier about the same before they conducted the lottery, but they still went ahead with the allotment. We want people to know of the water scarcity in Mira Road and hence want to make our concerns known." Mhatre claims that the corporation for the last six months has been stating that new and up coming constructions in the Mira- Bhayander region can't be supplied with water. " Our current water supply is only sufficient for the existing population. Our water supply cannot take any extra burden," said Mhatre. MHADA's Mumbai and Konkan board chief officer, Bhausaheb Dangde, confirmed the receipt of the letter. However, he downplayed the issue. " Yes, the mayor of MBMC did write a letter to the authority. Soon after that we held various meetings with the commissioner and the problem will be sorted out," he said. Water woes In 2010, MHADA had faced a similar problem after allotment of houses in the lottery. There was a water scarcity in Mumbai and the BMC had said that it won't be able to provide water to MHADA flats built in Ghatkopar, Mankhurd and Versova. "The earlier issues have been solved, and we have also spoken to MIDC, the body that's laying water pipelines in the MBMC region. We are sure that this problem won't pertain for a long time," said Dangde. I have written a letter to MHADA clearly indicating to them that MBMC is not in a position to supply water to new dwellers. We had also warned them earlier about the same before they conducted the lottery — TULSIDAS MHATRE, mayor, MBMC