Ek Dozen Paani - Prem Nagar (Agaaz, Nikhil Anand)

Ek Dozen Paani - Prem Nagar

Director: Agaaz, Nikhil Anand

Duration: 01:36:44; Aspect Ratio: 1.778:1; Hue: 41.013; Saturation: 0.068; Lightness: 0.361; Volume: 0.389; Cuts per Minute: 19.909; Words per Minute: 104.754

While driving north on the western express highway, it is easy to pass by Premnagar- a dense settlement of homes and livelihoods that have been delicately woven into its side between the Andheri and Jogeshwari flyovers. Premnagar is a resettlement colony. Its many names- Bandra Plot, Colaba Plot etc are also its biography of settlement of thirty years. It is at once the story of the city of the displaced and the displaced city.

Following the violence of eviction, new memories of violence punctuate the area's history. 'A riot happens every ten years', one resident told me. But amidst these cycles of trouble, there is another cycle- far less dramatic, but perhaps more difficult to negotiate in the days that intercede in the time between larger conflagrations that make the news.

The daily struggles in Premnagar center around the practices of water collection. Unlike residents of adjacent bastis, those living in Premnagar have to do many things to make sure their daily water continues to flow to their homes- pipes pumps plumbers. When these modern arrangments fail them they turn again to others- borewells, tubewells, middle-men and markets. Life is measured in minutes of water supply. And life as Premnagar resident Shali who is filming this with Sohail says, is unlegal.

Why so much work for water? In the course of doing research, we heard many reasons from planners, engineers and residents: Because its at a height; because they steal; because no one pays their bills; because the pipes aren't repaired; because there aren't enough pipes; because they dont do their work properly; because we are Muslim.

How do we mediate through the world of partial truths? Here, with the members of Aagaz, we pause to sift through these stories. Before we have to return and make sure the water comes home.

The footage and annotations are part of the project Ek Dozen Pani, a collaboration between Agaaz, Akanksha, Nikhil Anand and CAMP see:
http://camputer.org/event.php?this=pani

Prem nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Idgah maidan functions much as Premnagar's town square. Community centers, mosques and schools ring its perimeter.

With digging busy passages a contentious process, residents settle for surface networks. They are more visible, and precarious this way. At once providing water and competing with others, residents connect pumps to coax water out of the pipes.
We see a large number of pipes passing through each and every lane and going into the houses. These pipes are a source of water, and are either one inch or half an inch in diameter. It is a true that although the water is supposed to be provided by the municipality, the majority of these pipes are illegal water connections i.e. connections not authorised by the municipality. The pipes seems to pervade every nook and corner of the lanes. As far as official policy goes, there is supposed to be one pipe for every five to ten houses. Often neighbours agree to take individual pipes to their door as well. Many of these infrastructural arrangements are made by plumbers residing in the community.

It is clear from the state of these lanes that the sewers acting as outlets of waste from the houses, are improperly covered; a responsibility that is meant to be undertaken by the municipality and the corporator elected in that particular area. This shows that the area is neglected by the authorities in charge of developing it. Also, the lack in sanitation is seen in the way people wash their utensils outside their houses, in the lanes.
Andheri
Bandra
Colaba
Idgah
Jogeshwari
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
authorities
authorized
connection
corporator
illegal
municipality
pipes
plot
plumbers
responsibility
sanitation
sewers
source
taps
waste
water

PPF

PPF
Idgah Maidan, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai

This is Prem Nagar in Jogeshwari East, a suburb of Mumbai. Prem Nagar is divided in to areas such as Colaba plot, Bandra plot, Andheri plot, Idgah Maidan, Ramgarh, Sitawadi, Janata Colony, SQ Colony, Fish Market and other smaller settlements.

The current footage is of the Idgah Maidan, which is next to Idgah Mosque. The ground near the mosque is also a recreational ground for students of National Urdu School which is on the left side of the Rangoonwala Community Center. Also the ground houses many food carts which cater to students of the school during recess. Also the ground is used for prayer meetings (namaaz) during Id and that is why the Mosque is called Idgah Mosque.

The Rangoonwala Community Center is run by Rangoonwala Foundation India which was founded by Mohammed Ali Rangoonwala and his wife Banu Rangoonwala. The community center offers variety of programme such as computer training, yoga training, counseling, English speaking course, prevention and medication for Tuberculosis (TB) disease, camps for children during vacation, professional training in teaching and embroidery, and organizing various medical camps and providing medical aid.

One can also see a woman carrying an electric water motor. The motor is used to extract water from the pipes, since there is no pressure in the pipes. There is less supply of water even when the pipes are extended to each house in the lanes. The division of water in infinite number of pipes leads to low pressure. Hence, people use electric water motor in the area.
Andheri
Bandra
Center
Colaba
Colony
Colony
Community
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Mosque
Mumbai
National
Noorani
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
Rangoonwala
SQ
School
Sitawadi
Urdu
aid
counseling
medical
motor
pipes
plot
pressure
water

Prem nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai

Prem nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
We see the lane leading to Bandra plot from Idgah Maidan, filled with hordes of illegal water pipes that pervade every nook and corner of the lanes. We also see a number of iron ladders next to the houses; this in fact leads to an extended floor, added on illegally to the main house. Although a vertical extension is normally built by obtaining the necessary permission from the municipality, many of these constructions are illegal, and are given out on rent for either residential or commercial purposes.

Also, the lack of space is evident since the barrels (drums) used for storing water are kept outside the houses. This is also indicates the lack of a proper storage facility.

The footage ends with a close up shot of a banner about, 'Bazm-e-ilahee' welfare association, which also is the entry point for the Colaba plot area.
Andheri
Bandra
Bazm-e-ilahee
Colaba
Colony
Colony
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Sitawadi
association
barrels
commercial
construction
extension
illegal
municipality
pipes
plot
residential
storage
vertical
water
welfare

PPF

Colaba Plot
NA : When was this settlement established?

Man : Huh?

NA : I thought this was started in 1970.

Man : No, it was there from even before. But the development of the place started from last 15 years. In last 15-20 years. I was born in the same house in which we currently live. My date of birth is 16th March 1965.

NA : Great. Since then.

Man : Yes, since then.

NA : What do you do in here?

Man : I have done many jobs, as of now I am working with a friend of mine. Earlier I used to run a hotel, then I even used to do business of gowns (maxi).

NA : You mean business of stiching and making gowns.

Man : Yes, the business of making gowns.

NA : Great.

Man : It's going well.

NA : What about your family? Do they live here?

Man : Yes, everybody lives here.

NA : I am from Bombay, but since last five years I am studying in US, because there wasn't enough scope here.
Prem nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Wee see a close up shot of a banner about the 'Bazm-e-ilahee' welfare association at the entry of the Colaba plot area.

Nikhil Anand (NA) is greeted by a few residents of Prem Nagar who are excited to see a handy-cam. One can see the excitement on their faces as the camera records their words and actions. In the background, there is a mechanic dismantling motorcycle parts. Nikhil goes into a cafe called the Nagori Milk Hotel and talks to a resident Mr Salim (Man). They introduce themselves and talk about the recent developments in Prem Nagar.
Anand
Andheri
Bandra
Bazm-e-ilahee
Colaba
Colony
Colony
Hotel
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Milk
Mumbai
Nagori
Nikhil
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Salim
Sitawadi
association
plot
welfare

In the following clip, the conversation continues between Nikhil Anand and one of the residents of Prem Nagar, Mr Salim (Man) at a cafe called 'Nagori Milk Hotel.' The conversation follows topics such as Nikhil's background, the employment history of Mr Salim, and his habit of frequenting the 'Bawan Chawl' in Worli to meet his friends, near Century Mills and Bombay Dyeing Company.

The clip ends with the close up of a boy in the cafe, whose mouth is stuffed with food.
NA: Since the past three years I have been working on a project on water, in terms of a book. But the real world is different from that in books. I am here from past one year, and there is still a year more to go.

Man: In here, where were you born?

NA: I am from Worli.

Man: Worli.

NA: However, I am living in a house here, in Sarvodaya Nagar.

Man: There is a place called Baawan Chawl (Fifty-two lane) in Worli.

NA:Yes.

Man: I often visit that place.

NA: Really? Because?

Man: There is Century Mills over there, right? Baawan Chawl (Fifty-two lane). My friends lived there; hence I used to go there often.

Suhel: Bombay Dyeing company is there.

Man: Yes, right. Two by three, less sugar. Make it good, full, special. They add lots of sugar, and also I am diabetic.

NA: I had gone to a doctor. Doctor said that I am pre-diabetic.

Man: Here is the tea.
Prem nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Anand
Andheri
Bandra
Bawan Chawl
Bombay
Century
Colaba
Colony
Colony
Dyeing
Hotel
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Milk
Mills
Mumbai
Nagori
Nikhil
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Salim
Sitawadi
Worli
conversation
plot

Andheri
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Colony
Idgah
In the following clip, there is a casual conversation between a couple of residents at the cafe; Mr Shamsu Nawab (Man 1) and his friend (Man 2) participate. During the informal interview, the resident blames the government, and various other governmental bodies like the municipality and authorised personnel from the government, for turning Prem Nagar into a nomadic area; there are no residential proofs of majority such as ration cards, or electricity bills, or voters cards, for the past fifty years. The resident goes on to elaborate on the fact that the Prem Nagar slum is just a vote bank for the political parties, and that the Congress uses this fact to come into power in the area. He says that there are no organisations who might choose to highlight the situation in Prem Nagar, or who speak on behalf of the residents of Prem Nagar, even when water is sold illegally.
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Man 1: All the people in the government - be it MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) or MP (Member of Parliament) - all have made this area a nomadic settlement.

NA: Yes.

Man 1: No one has a perfect proof (residential). Nor does anybody have a perfect ration card, nor electricity bill.

NA: Since last fifty years.

Man 1: Yes, there has been no development in the last fifty - sixty years. In the name of water supply, our MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) has installed a water tank which is generally used in villages.

NA: The bore-well tank.

Man 1: This slum is just a vote bank. The day the vote bank (is) extinct, they will destroy this settlement. Here, mostly there will be fights among people with documents and people without documents. Seventy-five percent of the people living here do not have documents. Some don't have light bill, some don't have their names on voter's list, some of them don't have ration card; everyone is reduced to being topics. This is just a nomadic settlement. And it is from here that Congress comes in to power every time. All the big MLAs and MPs have gone from here.

NA: Right.

Man 1: But, this place has made no development till date. Do you understand?

NA: So, what has been happening over here?

Man 1: There is no one here. There is no authoritarian figure who would guide us. Now, when there was this scheme of SRA (Slum Rehabilitation Authority), everyone would come forward. But if the issue of water, no organisation comes forward.

Man : Everyone is worried for water. Every member from a family stands in the queue for water. The children have to go to school

Man 1: Water is being sold here at the rate of rupees five for a minute.

NA: Five rupees for...?

Man 1: A minute.

Suhel: One hundred and fifty rupees per month, people sell water for hundred and fifty rupees per month.

Man 1: Not one hundred and fifty rupees per month.

Man 2: Hundred and fifty rupees is a bit less.

Man 1: It is four hundred and fifty rupees per month, brother. Do you want me to tell? Will you take my interview?

NA: Take your interview? Why not? For sure.

Man 2: As it is the camera is on.

NA: As it is the camera is on. He has turned it on.

Man 1: No, in the interview I will tell you that people are paying fifteen - twenty rupees for a minute every day.

Man 2: They are even charging us for the water from the bore-well.

NA: Is it for the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) line, or for the bore-well?

Man 1 : The BMC line, which is stolen.
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Prem nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Shamsu Nawab
Sitawadi
authorized
congress
conversation
electricity bills
illegally
municipality
personnel
plot
political
ration card
resident
slum
sold
voters card
water

A major problem here is that many residents don't have the documents they need to access government programs. There are many reasons for this as well... not least that they have no documents. If you need papers to get papers, who and how will you get the first one?

Shamsu bhai was eager to speak for the camera. He pointed to many important aspects of development politics in Prem Nagar- the lack of hospitals and schools, and the maintenance of the area as a precarious slum. Social infrastructure? 'Its coming' he says cynically, criticising the unfulfilled promises of politicians.

But Shamsu Bhai also points to the limits of politicians representing Premnagar. With their representative's party not in power in the municipal corporation, how much can they do?

Man 1: The line by the BMC, which is unauthorised. Water from that line is stolen and is being sold to the people.

NA: Didn't anyone apply for a line?

Man 1: What can we do? Nobody listens to us. This is the black-listed area, things are going to remain the same.

Man 2: "It's coming, it's coming." (he is imitating the authorities) Since past fifteen - twenty years, it's still coming. Our MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) keeps on saying it will come.

Man 1: A bore-well has been installed.

NA: Since the past ten years.

Man 2: The line is coming, it is down.

Man 1: A bore-well has been installed. And if the expense is rupees five lakh, they would have shown fifty lakh. No MLA spends from his own pocket. They would have spend five, but must have taken fifty from the government. This road that is being developed does not give food to eat. I mean, it would have been better if instead of developing roads, they built a medical, or a hospital, by collecting funds. Every year they build roads, every year it expires. Nothing happens by just tiling the roads. So these are the topics and issues over here.

NA: Which is the closest hospital?

Man 1: The closest hospital here is in Bhangi wada (also known as Rohidas Nagar).

Suhel: It's a maternity hospital.

Man 1: That too is maternity, otherwise we have to go to Cooper Hospital.

NA: Cooper?

Man 1: Yes, Cooper. There is nothing besides that.

Man 2: There is nothing. Even in Cooper, there is nothing.

NA: Meaning?

Man 2: No one is there (Cooper Hospital)

NA: Medicines, doctors.

MAN 1 and Man 2 (in chorus): There is no one there.

Suhel: Among fifty thousand in a vote bank, it is necessary to have a BMC Hospital or General Hospital. There is a law like that.

Man 1: My friend, there are one lakh people over here. It is even more than a lakh of voters. The region has been extended.

Suhel: Sorry, it is five lakh.

Man 2: Among five lakh people, one BMC hospital, right?

Man 1: (Not Audible)

Suhel: There is not even a single BMC hospital, in the whole of K-East ward. There is a General hospital in the K-West ward, but not in the K-East ward. Why there is no hospital in the K-East ward? Maybe that is why some women's organisation and other organisations wanted to turn the maternity hospital into a General hospital.

Man 1: They have not done it. The health minister of the state, Suresh Shetty... Now, see there are elections. There is no development - be it education, be it health, or water. There has been no development in this area.
Prem nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
We see the people in the footage discussing the need for the development of hospitals and the provision of water in Prem Nagar.

Bhangi wada is a place located next to Janta Nagar. The real name of the Bhangi wada is Rohidas Nagar. The residents of the place work as sweepers and cleaners in the BMC, hence it is called Bhangi wada. Bhangi is an Indian caste; even though they are outside of traditional jati (the traditional divisions), they are also treated as untouchables. Bhangis are traditionally restricted to the two job functions of cleaning latrines and handling dead bodies (both human and animal) . 'Toilet cleaners,' or bhangis, are also called manual scavengers, and they have to carry it away in a bucket on their head.
Andheri
Bandra
Bhangi
Bhangi wada
Colaba
Colony
Colony
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
Rohidas Nagar
SQ
Shamsu Nawab
Sitawadi
Untouchables
caste
conversation
development
hospitals
need
plot
scavengers
water

Prem nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Suhel: This area has much more problem in getting water, right?

NA: Very much.

Man 1: In the whole area.

Man 2: It's not from today; it has been for the past fifteen years. I mean this what the ministers say. MLAs and MPs say it.

NA: When did this problem start?

Man 1: This problem is existing from the very start.

NA: From the start there was no water?

Man 1: The problem is existing since last twenty - twenty two years.

Man 2: Since the last fifteen years I have been watching the MPs and MLAs say that, "it's coming, the line is coming."

Man 1: I tell you, they don't want to do development work in this area, only to get appreciation. They said that they are not in the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) and "hence we are installing tanks and bore-well for you." They have installed ten - twelve bore-wells, among which some are good and some are not. Even on that, some people rule.

NA: But isn't the water from the bore-well drinkable?

Suhel: It is dirty water.

Man 1: The water is not meant for drinking. The bore-well is installed next to a public toilet; it has the sewer and toilet water in it. Is this development, or what? Huh? Suresh Shetty has come twice or thrice in this area. What development has he done? Nothing. It is just a vote bank for our MP and his chosen few.

Man 2: Sunil Dutt was our MP.

Suhel: Ex-MP.

NA: And now?

Man 1: Priya Dutt, Priya Dutt.

Man 2: Our sister, Priya Dutt, has never come to take a round of this area.

Man 1: As of now, many builders are eyeing this land.

NA: Really?

Man 1: Yes, there is SRA (Slum Rehabilitation Authority), MHADA (Maharashtra Housing & Area Development Authority); everyone is eyeing this; big-big builders are eyeing this land.

NA: Where is Priya Dutt? In Lok Sabha? In Rajya Sabha?

Man: Priya Dutt is from Congress.

Man 1: For this, you should go to places where people are filling water; you should see that. Do you understand, brother? Oh, brother. If you want to see, I can show you how people fill water in the lanes with a small jug of water.
The people in the following footage are discussing the water supply problems in Prem Nagar, and referring to the various promises made by the MPs (Member of Parliament) and MLAs (Member of Legislative Assembly) before the election, about the development in the area. They make reference to some local people who claim that they have authority over the bore-wells.

The people in the clip also also discuss the importance of the land in Prem Nagar. Hakim thinks that these people are not really aware of the reality of the situation as they mistakenly label government agencies such as SRA (Slum Rehabilitation Authority) and MHADA (Maharashtra Housing & Area Development Authority) as commercial builders, supposedly eyeing the land of Prem Nagar.

For more information on the SRA, see http://www.sra.gov.in/

For more information on the MHADA, see http://www.indiahousing.com/authorities/mhada.html

To find out about Sunil Dutt, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunil_Dutt

Piya Dutt's profile can be viewed at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priya_Dutt
Andheri
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Colony
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
MHADA
MLA
MP
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
SRA
Shamsu Nawab
Sitawadi
authority
bore-wells
builders
commercial
conversation
development
election
plot
water

Amina Nagar
Andheri
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Colony
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Man 1: Leave the toilet aside, it's about water.

Man: Do you smoke?

NA: No.

Man 1: So, where do you come from?

NA: No, I am just studying this.

Man 2: Which trust or organisation do you belong to? I mean, or is it yours, private?

NA: No, I am just studying, doing research at University. That is the reason I have come here.

Man 1: Okay, okay.

Man 3: If you are standing for election, all the communities that are there...

Man 1: If you go to see the delegates around here, everyone is uneducated; those who use their thumb print for signatures, you will find such people around here. They are the greatest.

Man: They don't know the full form of UN, but they want to govern.

Man 1: If you give them a bill, they wouldn't able to read it, but they are representing people. In human rights department, there are such criminals. It's better not to talk about them. What is happening here is - whatever shines is considered gold. The institutions here are of no use. I know things closely; what difficulty and pain people go through. How they earn and how they spend, what business do they do. I have complete information on this.

Man 2: We were discussing the same issues, and you came in.

Man 1: Everything here is unauthorised. Let alone the votes, even the electricity in this settlement is unauthorised. Did you notice it or not? There is a mafia there.

Suhel: One can get a connection from there for hundred, or hundred and fifty rupees.

Man 1: What? What?

Suhel: Electricity.

Man 1: Hundred and fifty for houses, and eight hundred to one thousand for workshops. There is a mafia there, in the whole of Amina Nagar.

Suhel: All that, even the people from the electricity department are involved in this.

Man 1: They are involved, even they take their cut.

Suhel: Otherwise this would not have continued to this extent.

Man 1: Business doesn't know, department doesn't know, nobody knows.
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Prem nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Shamsu Nawab
Sitawadi
The clip shows a debate regarding illegal or unauthorised electricity connections i.e. connections for which no documentation needs to be submitted, and some times even involve a one-time payment, and are not legally authorised by the electricity supplier, are known as illegal or unauthorised connection. People also tend to tamper with the meter so that it shows a lower consumption of electricity. It appears that people who don't have proper documentation, can easily obtain a connection through an electrician for a one-time payment or a monthly charge; similar to the methods by which one receives an illegal water connection through a plumber.

The most basic form of electricity theft is tampering with someone else's connection without without their knowledge in order to receive power. Also, it appears that a few government officials in the electricity department are a party to these activities and take a cut from the total earnings.
connection
conversation
documentation
electricity
government
illegal
mafia
officials
plot
unauthorised

Rafiq: This the Shyam Rao pond. The main spot for immersing Lord Ganesh idols during Ganeshotsav. People come from far places to immerse Lord Ganesh idols, due to which the serenity and the water of the pond gets dirty. This is a very old pond, nearly forty, forty-five years old.

Shali: So, earlier, did the people use this water?

Rafiq: Before immersing Lord Ganesh's idols, this water was used for washing clothes, was used for drinking for cows and buffaloes. All of this was a forest then. Now construction is happening. So, now the people, the government is beautifying the pond.

Shali: The people must have used to take the water to their houses.

Rafiq: Previously they used to take water, but not now. Now, this water is of no use. In rains (during the monsoons), the water gets accumulated, and there are a lot of fishes in it.

Shali: Aren't there dolphins and other kinds of fish? (???)

Rafiq: Dolphins, we have to get it and leave it here. (???) There are a few fish which can be seen.

Shali: They cannot be seen, they are just moving the water.

Rafiq: There are some fish. There, there are the fish.

Shali: Now what is being constructed over here?

Rafiq: Now it is there in the plan, but will only understand after it is built.

Shali: I have heard that, the corporator is making something like a park.

Rafiq: Yes, because couples come here in the evening to sit.

Shali: And go after making a scene.

Rafiq: And go after having some fun. There is no place in Jogeshwari where they can sit in peace. For that they have to go to Bandstand. (a well-known promenade in Bandra, a suburb of Mumbai.) Don't they?
Shyam Nagar Talao, Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road, Mumbai
The footage shows Shyam Nagar near Jogeshwari - Vikhroli Link Road. The footage focuses on a pond that is being reconstructed into a park. The pond is known as Shyam Nagar Talao and is also referred to as Saat Bawdee (Seven wells). Earlier, the pond was used to immerse the idols of Lord Ganesh during the festival of Ganeshotsav. Although the pond was once, decades ago, a source of water for locals around the neighbourhood, the water can no longer be used for any such purpose.

Moreover, the pond which previously used to be open and easily accessible to the public, is now being controlled by members of the Shiv Sena, a political party in India. (For more information on the Shiv Sena, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiv_Sena) This is due to the fact that along with the renovation work of the pond, a corporator and member of the Shiv Sena party, Ravindra Waikar, has commissioned the building of a temple in that area. Thus, now one needs to obtain permission from the Shiv Sena personnel in charge of that particular area to access the pond. A park is also being built around the pond so that the locals can have a spot for recreational purposes.
Ganeshotsav
Jogeshwari
Link
Rafiq
Ravindra Waikar
Saat Bawdee
Shali
Shiv-Sena
Shyam Nagar
Vikhroli
corporator
park
water

Shali: But after making a park over here, will the Ganesh idols still be immersed in the pond?

Rafiq: I don't know about that. According to me, it shouldn't happen. After spending lakhs of rupees to build it, if this is used for immersing the Ganesh idols, then the water is going to get dirty again.

Shali: Meaning that after this is built, are they gong to put in fresh water, or are they going to clean it?

Rafiq: Not fresh water. But it will accumulate water which gets collected during monsoons.

Shali : It means they are not going to create a routine to clean the water.

Rafiq : No, nothing like that.

Shali : And what is this house-type structure over here? I mean, is it open or what?

Rafiq : This is a well. Focus.

Shali : It looks dried up.

Rafiq : It has water.

Shali : The water from the pond could go in the well?

Rafiq : Yes, if it's coming from the ground, that it could.

Shali : So, is it a natural pond?

(not audible)

Rafiq : This is called Shanta Rao pond or Shyan Nagar pond. What is it called?

Shali : It is called Shyam Nagar pond, and many people know it as Saat-Bawdee (Seven Wells).

Rafiq : Saat-Bawdee (Seven Wells).

Shali : But actually this is not Saat-Bawdee (Seven Wells).

Rafiq : We could only see one well here.

Shali : Saat Bawdee (Seven Wells) is ahead. But people know this as Saat Bawdee (Seven Wells). It is famous as Saat Bawdee (Seven Wells).

Rafiq : Stop.
Shyam Nagar Talao, Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road, Mumbai
We see that while the pond is being renovated along with the work on the park, there is no long term system or solution in place to clean the existing filth in the pond. Moreover, while the pond will receive fresh water from the monsoon rains, there are no further provisions for fresh water supply. It is debatable whether, after the renovation, the pond could continue to be used to for immersing the idols during the festival of Ganeshotsav.
Ganeshotsav
Jogeshwari
Link
Rafiq
Saat Bawdee
Shali
Shiv-Sena
Shyam Nagar
Vikhroli
park
water

Waterscapes.

Walking through their neighbourhood, Rafiqbhai and Shali pass Shamnagar talab. In the past, this used to be a place where nearby residents would come to wash clothes and collect water. Many of them now get water from the BMC. The pond, previously forgotten, has now, through the use of city finances, been made into a cultural recreation area by the local politician.

Water fulfils not only our material but also our cultural needs. Here, the renovated tank is being made for a new purpose. Through renovations it serves a new role- 'culturally sensitive' leisure, sanctified by a temple and used for religious occasions. Shali and Rafiqbhai cant help thinking that the new developments are also going to enhance the real estate values of a rapidly changing area. They may be right. Many public improvements do often serve private interests.

Rafiq: This is linked with Jogeshwari Link Road.

Sana: What do you think - will this pond hold any importance, once this area and areas near by are developed?

Rafiq: It will be of great importance. Because in Mumbai, only a few ponds exist. It will become the main pond, once it is built. In the evening people can jog, in the morning senior citizens can come here to exercise, etc. This is being built in such a way that morning or evening, people can exercise. The demand for this place will go up.

Shali: Actually, it is being built to increase the demand. I mean, next to it such a beautiful building is made by Raheja.

Rafiq: Even this has developed. The temple has been nicely built.

Shali: The temple has been built nicely. Then a park like space is being created for children to play.

Rafiq: And what you see in front is construction undertaken by Oberoi, to build hotel. And if a hotel etc. is created over there.

Shali: It will so happen that it will develop to an extent that even to come here, one would need to buy a ticket.

Rafiq: One would need a ticket.

Shali: It might happen that this could turn into a resource to make money.

Rafiq: It will turn into a picnic spot.

Shali: Which was earlier natural.

Sana: Does anyone else know about this?

Shali: Anyone else wouldn't know about this. I don't know.

Rafiq: They might know.

Shali: Even I was thinking of asking them what work is going on.
Shyam Nagar Talao, Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road, Mumbai
The footage is of Shyam Nagar near Jogeshwari - Vikhroli Link Road. The footage focuses on a pond that is being reconstructed into a park. The pond is known as Shyam Nagar Talao and is also referred to as Saat Bawdee (Seven wells). The pond was earlier used to immerse idols of Lord Ganesh during the festival of Ganeshotsav. Decades ago, the pond was a source of water for the locals living in the adjoining areas, but now the water cannot be used for any purpose.

Rafiq, the man with the sunglasses, postulates that since there are very few ponds in the city, the Shyam Nagar Talao will have its own share of importance. Whereas Shali, a volunteer, speculates that due to the increased presence of high-rise buildings like Raheja and Oberoi inthe neighbourhood, there may come a time where one would need to buy tickets to enter the park. It will turn into a commercialised park, when earlier it was an open space with the pond, which was free for all.
Ganeshotsav
Jogeshwari
Link
Oberoi
Rafiq
Raheja
Saat Bawdee
Shali
Shiv-Sena
Shyam Nagar
Vikhroli
commercialized
park
water

(Not Audible)
Shyam Nagar Talao, Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road, Mumbai
The footage is of Shyam Nagar near Jogeshwari - Vikhroli Link Road. The footage focuses on a pond that is being reconstructed into a park. The pond is known as Shyam Nagar Talao and is also referred to as Saat Bawdee (Seven wells). Decades ago the pond was a source of water for locals around the neighbouring areas, but now the water cannot be used for any purpose.

The footage concentrates on the construction workers. These are workers who have been hired either on daily basis or till the project gets completed. Almost all of the conversation is not audible since there is a drilling work going in the background and cement mixing in the foreground. The volunteer is asking about the construction layout of the park and pond to the supervisor. One can see the workers busy segregating and mixing cement.
Ganeshotsav
Jogeshwari
Link
Saat Bawdee
Shiv-Sena
Shyam Nagar
Vikhroli
construction
park
water

Rafiq: This is Ichchapurti Ganesh Temple. It is very old temple.

Sana: What would you like to say about it's new construction? As earlier this was old. And now this is being developed and even this is being developed.

Rafiq: It is good. Whatever the development that is happening, it is good.

(Not Audible)
Shyam Nagar Talao, Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road, Mumbai
We see a pond located in Shyam Nagar near Jogeshwari - Vikhroli Link Road. The pond is known as Shyam Nagar Talao and is also referred to as Saat Bawdee (Seven wells). Decades ago the pond was a source of water for locals in the adjoining area, but now the water cannot be used for any purpose.

The temple is known as the Ichchapurti Ganesh Temple. Ichcchapurti means wish (ichcha) and fulfilled (purti), i.e. the temple is called the 'Wish Fulfilling Ganesh Temple,' but is famously known as Shyam Nagar Temple. Along with the reconstruction of park and pond, even the temple was renovated. One of the volunteers feels that since the area surrounding the temple is developed, or is still under development, it was necessary to also renovate and redevelop the temple which earlier was small in size. Even in this clip, not much of the conversation is audible, due to the traffic noise on the road.

There is a BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) piped water connection with a 24 hour water supply for cleaning the temple and the park area. It particularly ironic that this should be the case when other settlements in the adjoining areas are facing a shortage of water, and have to make do with fetching water from a bore-well.
BMC
Ganesh
Ganeshotsav
Ichchapurti
Jogeshwari
Link
Rafiq
Saat Bawdee
Shali
Shyam Nagar
Temple
Vikhroli
bore-well
park
supply
water

Prem nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
We see a chawl (lane) in the area of Bandra plot in Prem Nagar. Shali is in conversation with Rafiq's mother, regarding her memories of water in Prem Nagar. Shali and Rafiq both are volunteers from the Aagaz group.

The old lady describes how, approximately forty or fifty years ago (in the 1960s), she, and her fellow residents, had to go all the way to Shyam Nagar, Sanjay Nagar, etc to fetch a supply of water. She elaborates on how they used to go to the natural spring situated in Azad Nagar. The spring, once surrounded by mountains, is now surrounded by a concrete wall and buildings.

It remains a general misconception that the people in Sanjay Nagar have all migrated to here from Madras, and hence are therefore referred to as Madrasis i.e. people from Madras. In fact, the people living in Sanjay Nagar are of the Vaidu and Vaddari tribe who hail from Andhra Pradesh.
(Not Audible)
1960
Aagaz
Andheri
Andhra Pradesh
Azad Nagar
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Madras
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Rafiq
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Sanjay Nagar
Shali
Shyam Nagar
Sitawadi
Vaddari
Vaidu
plot
spring
water

Prem nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Shali: When did the tap connection come in this area?

Woman: The tap connection came during the birth of my third girl, second or third girl. It came around that time. We used to pay rupees three per month.

Shali: Previously.

Woman: Yes, previously. And then it increased to rupees twenty.

Shali: The municipality connection came first, or the private connection came first?

Woman: Municipality connection. They used to charge rupees three per month.

Rafiq: Who used to collect the money? The municipality or some one else?

Woman: We used to collect the money and give it together.

Rafiq: To whom?

Woman: Like we do it now, in the same way.

Rafiq: Okay. For maintenance.

Woman: And then it went on increasing to rupees twenty per month.

Shali: Now, everyone has a connection in their houses.

Woman: Yes, now everyone has a connection in their houses. The world kept on changing and so did these things change. We had to bear a lot of difficulties in getting water in our time. We used to carry one pitcher in one hand, two pitchers on our head and a bucket in the other hand, and used to get water till here. And not just me alone. (not audible)

Shali: So everybody would go together.

Woman: Everyone would go together. Most of the time from near the highway, there used to be a hill.

Shali: Yes, there used to be a hill.

Woman: There was the hill and kaccha road (a gravel road).

(not audible).
The following footage is of Prem Nagar in Jogeshwari East, a suburb of Mumbai. Prem Nagar is divided in to areas such as Colaba plot, Bandra plot, Andheri plot, Idgah Maidan, Ramgarh, Sitawadi, Janata Colony, SQ Colony and Fish Market and other smaller settlements.

This is a chawl (lane) in the area of Bandra plot in Prem Nagar. Shali is having a conversation with Rafiq's mother, regarding the history of water in Prem Nagar. Shali and Rafiq both are volunteers from Aagaz group. The woman talks of the earliest municipality connection for which they would pay rupees three per month, which gradually increased to rupees twenty per month. Also as of now people have got connection in their houses as oppose to previously when the residents, especially women had to go far near the hills, which now is Western Express highway, walking on the kaccha roads as there were no roads constructed then, be it tar or concrete. The residents would carry four vessels at a time filled with water, to their houses, and would always go in a group.
Aagaz
Andheri
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Express
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Rafiq
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Shali
Sitawadi
Western
concrete
connection
highway
municipality
pitcher
plot
tar
water
women

Prem nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Shali: The water which comes now in the pipes, is it good? I mean, is the water clean, or gets mixed with the sewer water?

Woman: It is dirty.

Shali: Dirty.

Woman: Yes, dirty. From that tap. And this is the tap for bore-well.

Shali: So, this the bore-well tap. When was the bore-well tap started?

Woman: It has not yet started.

Shali: Not yet started.

Rafiq: Is that the tap for drinking water?

Shali: For bore-well?

Woman: Yes for bore-well, they were charging rupees sixty per month. Yes, and then that's not for drinking.

Shali: So, for the bore-well tap you paid rupees six hundred first and then rupees sixty per month. And this is the tap.

Woman: Yes, this is the tap.

Shali: So, the water comes sometimes through out the day.

Rafiq: The water comes only once in a day.

Woman: There is a time table; in the afternoon.

Shali: For what purposes do you use the water from bore-well?

Woman: Just for washing.

Shali: Meaning washing clothes, utensils. You don't use it for drinking?

Woman: No.

Shali: And bathing?

Woman: Some people in the other chawl drink it

Shali: They won't be getting water from the tap.

Woman: Give him to me. My lovable child.

Shali: What's your name, child? What's your name?

Woman: He is a Khan.

Shali: So, people over there who drink the water from the bore-well, there they don't receive water from the tap?

Woman: No.

Shali: Why? Why did the tap water stop coming?

Woman: I don't know. Only God would know.

Shali: All the connections in this area, are they with meter or without the meter?

Woman: With the meter.

Shali: Even now they fill water from it?

Woman: And then what they did, when the water didn't come for four-four days, then they stopped using it.

Shali: They just stopped paying the bills.

Woman: They just stopped it. What else they could have done?
We see a chawl (lane) in the area of Bandra plot in Prem Nagar. Shali is in conversation with Rafiq's mother, regarding the municipality connection i.e. the tap water and the bore-well water in Prem Nagar. Shali and Rafiq both are volunteers from the Aagaz group. The woman states that most people use the bore-well water for purposes like washing clothes and utensils, essentially, everything except to drink; though people living in other chawl (lane) do drink the water from the bore-well. This was due to the fact that they do not have access to tap water. Also, the women believes that most of the connections in her area used to be metered i.e. they were legal and authorised connections. However, at a later date, when the taps failed to provide water for a few days, people stopped paying their water bills.

Shali suggests that this could well mean that the people got a new connection that was unauthorised and illegal.
Aagaz
Andheri
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Rafiq
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Shali
Sitawadi
authorized
bill
bore-well
connection
drinking
illegal
legal
meter
pipe
plot
sewer
tap
unauthorized
washing
water

Prem nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Shali: And the new connection that people are taking is without the bills, right? I mean a connection for which people don't have to pay bills.

Woman: Yes. The plumbers from Hari Nagar would take rupees two thousand from you, two thousand from me, two thousand from other people and give you a connection.

Rafiq: Is the connection with the meter?

Woman: It has its advantages.

Shali: And that is why people do it.

Woman: Yes.

Shali: But now, since we need water, we have to take it. Till date we don't know what is the legal process for getting it.

Rafiq: Okay. That connection with meter, do you have to pay its bills or not?

Woman: You gave us the connection, you have taken money from us. It's the bill and you. What we have to do with it? You have taken rupees five thousand from us, five from them, five from them. In this way you got the connection. Then why should we pay?

Shali: Means you all have taken the connection from the plumber only, and have never gone directly to the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation).

Woman: No.

Shali: And don't even know how to get the connection from the BMC. What papers to give? How much money to give?

Woman: No, don't know about that.

Shali: And that is why we directly talk to the plumber.

Woman: With the plumber. What else could we do for getting water? And those who make payments have to deal with difficulty. Here there are one or two, we don't have to face difficulty.

Rafiq: Do you get the bill for the connection that you have taken from the plumber? The bill for that?

Woman: That he would know; we don't know.

Shali: Means he just gives you the connection.

Woman: Now see him, he would know. Don't you?

Rafiq: One minute brother, your name?

Riyaz: My name is Riyaz Khan.

Rafiq: Okay. Do you get the bill for the connection you have?

Riyaz: No.

Rafiq: You don't get the bill. It means it can be called an illegal connection. The connection, is it legal or illegal?

Riyaz: The connection you see, there was a man who came, he was a plumber. He said that he will give us a connection from the meter. We all gathered and made a group and said it's fine. He said that it would be fifty thousand rupees. We gave him fifty thousand rupees. He gave us the connection. After that the meter didn't arrive, nor did any bill. The water is coming fine.

Rafiq: The water is coming fine?

Riyaz: Yes.
We see a chawl (lane) in the Bandra plot in Prem Nagar. Shali is in conversation with Rafiq's mother, regarding whether they pay bills for the water connection or not. Shali and Rafiq both are volunteers from the Aagaz group. The women recounts that the plumbers from an area called Hari Nagar came, collected two thousand rupees from everyone who wanted a connection, after which they were able to recieve water in the new connection. It appears that the residents don't pay any bills for the connection, as they assume that they have paid a one time amount to the plumber and that the plumber have to deal with the bills, if any. If a person does not receive bills for the water connection, one can assume that it is a unauthorised or an illegal connection.

A resident living next door said that they were asked to pay a total of fifty thousand rupees for a new connection. They received the connection and the water through the new connection, but have no clue regarding the meter or the bills.

Shali feels that the neighbour is exaggerating the amount paid, that of fifty thousand, as he is being filmed. The amount cannot be a fact - even if every member has to pay two thousand, as per Rafiq's mother, the group would have to have twenty-five members. They would be unable to share a single connection between such a large number of people, and would then require a subsequent illegal connection.
Aagaz
Andheri
BMC
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Hari Nagar
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Rafiq
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Shali
Sitawadi
bill
connection
illegal
legal
meter
plot
plumber
unauthorized
water

This is Amod talking to his mother.

Prem nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Rafiq and Shali both belong to the Aagaz group. Rafiq reiterates the fact that approximately ninety percent of the water connections in Prem Nagar are illegal or unauthorised. The reasons cited are low water pressure, the fact that there is no supply of water in the municipal connection, or that even if there is water in the connection, it is dirty.

The residents also have a piped connection that provides them with bore-well water, which is shared by four members and costs rupees sixty a month, each. The residents state that they are willing to pay the bills if the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) provides them with a good connection with an efficient water supply. But it appears that the residents have no idea how to go about getting a legal connection from the BMC.

A resident claims that the government is neglecting them because they are poor. Shali notes that Riyaz is representing the area of Prem Nagar as all the residents there believe that their poverty causes the government to neglects them and their needs. Shali feels that the residents appear to be waiting for a messiah to come and lead them to bring a change; they have no wish to act themselves.

Hakim feels that people often just use 'being poor' as an excuse to recieve concessions, and get away without taking responsibility. He thinks that the residents are just comfortable being poor.
Rafiq: In here, there are many such lines. In the whole of Jogeshwari, Bandra plot, approximately ninety percent connections are like this, and ten percent connections are legal. The reason for legal and illegal are - no supply of clean water in the legal connections, no supply of water, low pressure. And in here people are also dependent on bore-well water.

Woman: This is for bore-well water, that is for sweet water. As of now it is closed.

Shali: That is the tap connection, right?

Rafiq: Yes, that is the tap connection.

Riyaz: This is the bore-well connection, and in the bore-well connection the water comes fast.

Woman: Now, it will stop. Turn it off, this will turn marshy. It is turning marshy. Turn it off.

Shali: You all don't have to use the electric water motor for the bore-well connection?

Riyaz: People don't need the electric water motor for the bore-well water. People collect money on monthly basis for the bore-well connection.

Shali: Sixty rupees, right?

Riyaz: Yes, sixty rupees, everyone, the public collects and gives. I mean this one connection is equal for five members. Every connection has five members.

Woman: Yes, four members.

Riyaz: Four members.

Woman: Four members share a connection. Four members are there, four members are there.

Riyaz: It is like this.

Woman: Four - four members share one - one connection.

Shali: Okay.

Riyaz: We want the BMC to install proper connections, then we will also pay our bills properly. But no one takes action; then what's the use?

Shali: What do you think, who should go to the BMC?

Riyaz: If you go to see, our group leader is that, belongs to the Congress.

Shali: Corporator.

Riyaz: Corporator, what's her name?

Shali: Sabera Shaikh.

Riyaz: It's Sabera sister. If she takes any action, then only we will move forward, because nobody listens to the poor. Everybody only cares for the rich.
Aagaz
Andheri
BMC
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Rafiq
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Shali
Sitawadi
bill
bore-well
connection
government
illegal
legal
messiah
plot
poor
supply
unauthorized
water

Prem nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Shali: Okay. Should the plumber be a licensed plumber or any other plumber? Now, the money that we give to the plumber, do we give it after checking that he is a licensed plumber, or do we give it just like that?

Riyaz : He doesn't say anything at all. He just says that he is going to the office and that he has contacts in the office. "I am getting the connection from the office." Even the officers are involved in this. Then what else could we say?

Rafiq : The main thing here is that water should come, whether it is legal or illegal is not of concern.

Riyaz : And the first thing is that when there was a morning connection - if we go to see, eight - ten years back there was a morning connection - the water used to come in that connection.

Woman : The water used to come at six in the morning.

Riyaz : Yes, used to come at six in the morning and by ten in the morning the supply of water should stop. The public here were able to fill the water. But now that is closed. So, we have to get a new connection for fifty thousand. We are helpless, what's the use of it? So for this, if you take up this issue, if you take any action, then we will be backing you.

Shali : We are not going to take up anything, because we aren't leaders.

Riyaz : But you are going to present this CD on a film, it would lead to some effect for us.

Shali : What do you'll think could be a solution to this? I mean, should there be bore-well water?

Riyaz : It is not in our hands, the decision could only be taken by the BMC. If they are willing to take some action, only then we could do something.

Shali : I mean, what do you think? Should there be bore-well water, or should bore-well be shut down?

Riyaz : If we go to see, the bore-well water shouldn't be there. The water from the bore-well could not be used for bathing, nor for drinking or for anything else.

Woman : It is used just to pass the time.

Riyaz : It is just for passing time. The poor don't have money, hence they have to drink this water. What else we could do?

Woman : What could we do?

Shali : If suppose the BMC says that just use the tap water for drinking, and for the rest (of your) purposes the BMC will provide twenty-four hours of supply of bore-well water. Will that be fine?

Riyaz : It would be fine. We are fine even it happens this way.

Shali : But...

Woman : They shouldn't charge us for it.

Shali : Not for the water from the bore-well, not even sixty rupees per month.

Woman : From where is the poor man going to get the money? First pay for that; then apart from it, pay rupees sixty more. From where is the poor man going to get it?
We see that the residents are not even aware whether the plumbers, who give them the water connection in return of a sum of rupees, are licensed plumbers or not. Riyaz states that the plumbers are the part of what can loosely be termed a 'water supply mafia' - they know people in the office of the BMC and set up a connection, and the BMC is involved as well. However, the residents don't care about this situation as their main concern is getting water, whether it be from an authorised or an unauthorised connection is not their concern.

They claim that the situation was not as bad when there was a supply of water available between 6 am and 10 am. The residents say that they are left with no other alternatives but to get an illegal connection. In fact, they blame the BMC for the current situation, and claim that only the BMC can improve the situation.

Riyaz mentions that the water from the bore-well is useless apart from its basic condition of washing clothes and utensils. He reiterates that they are poor, and are compromising with the situation forces them to drink the water from the bore-well. The residents claim that they would be willing to accept a compromise on the condition that drinking water would be provided by the municipality water connection, while for all other purposes they would use the bore-well water; however, the condition remains that the water from the bore-well water be free of cost.

Riyaz suggested that Shali show their plight and demand action from the authorities. Hakim rejects Riyaz's statement of the water from the bore-well being useless, stating that people living in smaller cities or rural areas are more than able to survive on the water from bore-wells as it is their only source of water at times. Shali responds by claiming that people try not to use bore-well water to drink or to bathe in because it is hard and saline in nature, and causes hair fall. "If that's the case, then nearly half of our nation's population would have gone bald," Hakim fires back. However, Shali later admits that it is likely the people of Prem Nagar feel cheated by the fact that they have to adjust to the hard water from the bore-well, while the rest of Mumbai has a ready availability of sweet water.

Moreover, the residents feel that the government is biased against them, having communalised Prem Nagar as a Muslim block.
Andheri
BMC
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Meghwadi
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Sanjay Nagar
Shali
Sitawadi
authorized
bore-well
communalized
connection
government
illegal
legal
mafia
municipality
muslim
plot
plumber
poor
unauthorized
washing
water

Andheri
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Prem nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Shali
Shali: And this mineral water, which the companies package in bottles and sell...

Riyaz: Bisleri.

Shali: Bisleri being one, Kinley, etc - should one buy and drink such water?

Riyaz: These things are not within our reach. These things are for the rich people. They can buy it and drink it. Such people have machines (water-purifiers) in their houses.

Shali: That is what. Here people pay sixty rupees per month, and people pay rupees ten-fifteen to get a bottle of water. I mean, here there is no water.

Riyaz: That people buy when they are travelling, for their health. They do drink it.

Shali: Should it be sold or not?

Riyaz: No, if it is clean water in the bottle, then it should be sold.

Shali: So you mean that the water in the tap is not clean?

Riyaz: No, the water which comes in the tap is the water from the bore-well.

Shali: No, the water which is used for drinking from the other connection? The one which comes from the tap, apart from the bore-well water?

Riyaz: Apart from the bore-well water. Yes, the clean water comes from that. Because that directly comes from the pump-house line. From there the water is clean. And this water from bore-well is from the ground, we all have seen it.

Shali: No, we are not from the media. We are Rafiq's friends. We are making a CD on the problems the residents of this area have to face regarding water.

Woman 2: Make everyone stand up. Make everyone stand up.

Woman: They are asking the problems regarding water.

Riyaz: The water which is coming, this is used for drinking. Come here, come here.

Woman: It's three, three-thirty; now the water has come.

Riyaz: See, the water which has come is the drinking water. The water which has come now is for drinking.

Shali: There isn't a tap on it?

Rafiq: Tap was there, but there is lack of water. They will quickly join the pipe, and then everyone will get water.

Shali: So, now they will insert a pipe.

Rafiq: Now see, a pipe will be joined.
Sitawadi
We see Shali questioning Riyaz with regard to the sale of packaged mineral water. Riyaz states that the price charged for these bottles is prohibitive; people who are barely able to come up with sixty rupees at the end of the month to pay for tap water are hardly likely to be able to afford prices like ten or twelve rupees a bottle. The purity of the packaged drinking water is then contrasted with the water from the bore-well; the residents think that the bore-well water is not clean because the bore-well is installed near a sewer. However, they feel that the water from the municipality tap is clean as it comes from a pipeline leading in from the pump-house.

It's around 3.30pm in the afternoon, and a sudden flurry indicated that the supply of water has started. We see that the pipes have no taps; this is apparently due to the excessively low water pressure. The solution to this problem is to use the electric water motor, which works as a pump and extracts water from the pipes. It appears that even the plumbers in the area are aware of the pitfalls of the constant low pressure, therefore not placing a tap on the pipe, or even closing the pipe with a bolt. Upon the arrival of the water, the residents connect pipes to the electric water motor, as without it the residents will not be able to access the supply of water, even while it is available.

Shali notices that some of these pipes have a nozzle on them, to which the pipes from the electric water motor are attached. Almost every house in Prem Nagar has one electric water motor.
bore-well
drinking
electric
mineral
motor
municipality
nozzle
packaged
pipeline
pipes
plot
rich
sewer
supply
water

Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
We see the entrance to a Gurudwara, located next to Alfalah Urdu School on Bandra plot road in Janata Colony. This is the only Gurudwara in the area, and Alfalah is one of the two Urdu schools in Prem Nagar.

A number of pipes lead into Madrasi galli (lane). The lane is known as Madrasi galli as the majority of residents there are migrants from Madras, now known as Chennai; even the mosque there is known as the Madrasi Mosque. There is even a temple dedicated to the goddess 'Kali' in this lane.

The sewer in the clip comes from the Andheri Plot in Prem Nagar, and goes downhill towards the Western Express highway, to where many such small sewers meet.
Alfalah
Andheri
Bandra
Chennai
Colaba
Colony
Express
Gurudwara
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Kali
Madras
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
School
Sitawadi
Urdu
Western
highway
migrants
mosque
plot
sewer
temple

1924
Andheri
Assembly
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Congress
Education
Health
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
K-East
Legislative
MLA
Maharashtra
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Sitawadi
Suresh Shetty
The clip shows a well which is not in use any more, and is generally used like an open attic by the neighbouring residents. The well was built in 1924, but was last cleaned in the year 2006 by a local member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Mr Suresh Shetty, who also happens to be the Health and Education minister for the state of Maharashtra. This is the third consecutive win for Mr Shetty, a member of the Congress Party, from the K-East Ward, a region which includes Prem Nagar and other areas between Andheri East and the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road. Also one can see that next to it, is a bore-well pump which is connected to a water tank.
Ward
attic
minister
plot
well

Man: This is the oldest.

Man 1: This has been there way before I was born.

Man: He said that the taps were here way before he was born.

Sohail: Do you know how long has it been since the installation of these taps?

Man: This was installed way before he was even born.

Old Man: Our childhood has passed.

Man: See this, these old men are saying that it has...

Old Man: Our childhood has passed here, we have never asked.

Sohail: Even then, approximately how old are these taps? Fifty years, sixty years, seventy, eighty?

Old Man: At least fifty years must have been passed.

Man: It is definitely older than fifty years.

Old Man 2: Not fifty, assume it to be sixty.

Man: Your age must definitely be over fifty.

Old Man 2: I am over sixty, sixty-five.

Man: Sixty-five, since then it is there.

Old Man 2: I was not married then, my childhood has spent over here.

Man: The space they have created for the taps is new. Earlier it was wider. Then they were paid and made like this. BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) people were paid.

Sohail: Since the start were they (taps) three; or were they four or five in number?

Man: Earlier there were four taps. We broke it down to three. Earlier it was nice.
Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
We see an overview shot of Prem Nagar. The volunteers of Akanksha and Aagaz shot this footage from one of the terraces in Prem Nagar while were getting acquainted with the workings of a handy-cam.

One of the volunteers, Sohail, questions the locals of the Andheri Plot with regard to a BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) tap in the area. In the course of the conversation, we are informed that the tap is still in working condition, unlike most of the other taps in the area. Moreover, the tap has been around for almost sixty years or so.
1924
Andheri
Assembly
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Congress
Education
Health
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
K-East
Legislative
MLA
Maharashtra
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Sitawadi
Suresh Shetty
Ward
attic
minister
plot
well

As the conversation continues, we discover that there were four taps earlier, which have currently been reduced to three. The appears to be due to the increasing demand for space, as well as the fact that the people living in the Andheri Plot have extended the water connections to reach their own homes.

It is interesting to see that the area has legal water connection, though is shared by fourteen families.
Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Sohail: I heard that earlier there were four taps here?

Man 1: Yes.

Sohail: The need for anything always increases, like I see the number of people around here has increased. I think the taps should have gone from four in number to five; how did they become three?

Man: It became three by...

Man 1: The connection is still there, but many people have taken connection in their houses.

Sohail: Have they taken this same tap's connection, or a private connection?

Man 1: No, they have not taken this tap's connection, they have taken a private connection.

Man: No, they have taken the private connection separately, but many people still come here and fill water.

Man: But still, as of now this tap provides water for fifty houses.

Sohail: Fifty houses.

Man 1: Yes.

Sohail: So these taps, when they were installed, were installed only for fifty houses?

Man 1: No, it was for the whole settlement.

Man: For the entire settlement.

Man 3: Now a few people fill water from here, as everyone has got a connection to their houses.

Man: They fill less water.

Man 1: Earlier there was a shade from here to there.

Sohail: I know, there was a shade, and there were four taps. Even I have spent my childhood here. Like these three taps of BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation). And wherever they were in this area, I think hardly this one is left. Apart from this, the one near the mosque on the hill-side is not there anymore.

Man 1: There is one near the flour mill.

Sohail: Near the flour mill.

Man 3: One is here, other is near the flour mill, and one more is there up ahead.

Old Man: (not audible)

Man: People in here have everything.

Sohail: For such a huge area, there are only these three taps by the BMC. The rest have taken connection.

Man: But many people come here to get water.

Man 3: The drinking water, be it for the house. Sometimes what happens is that water does not come because of the upward climb. This tap is running, hence this is used. If the water does not come on the top, then the people use these taps.

Man: The water doesn't go up, hence the public comes down.

Man 1: There is one connection which goes to fourteen houses; hardly eight houses would receive water, rest of them do not receive water.

Sohail: Okay, so this connection that goes to fourteen houses - are all of them on billing or meter, or are they...?

Man 3: They are on meter - one meter, thirteen members.

Sohail: Thirteen.

Man 3: Total, thirteen members.
Andheri
BMC
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Sitawadi
connection
legal
plot
private
taps
water

Man 4: I mean, those who have water connection at their place or not, it is compulsory to fill from here.

Sohail: Now, in a way, in Bandra Plot, there are lots of water problems. In the same way, are there any problems in this area, or in the neighbourhood?

Man 1: Here, the water problem is less.

Man 4: People in Bandra Plot do not receive water near the mosque. Women come here to get water from near the mosque. Women from the mosque area come here.

Sohail: Has it gone from here?

Man 1: Yes, it goes from here.

Sohail: The pipe was of how many inches, which has gone from here?

Man 1: Don't know about that, though should be around six inches.

Sohail: Six inches pipe.

Man 1: I think it is six inches.

Sohail: Don't you think that this six inches pipe should be made big?

Man: Need to make it big.

Man 1: If it is made big, then only people living ahead will get water.

Man: If it is made big, then only people living ahead will get water. Then people staying over there won't come here. Then people will go there.

Sohail: Is there any other problem besides making that (the pipe) big? I mean, a reason? Like the reason for water not coming is that the six inches pipe needs to be bigger. Any other reasons besides this?

Man: Reasons is what we don't know. Then too water is less. The public from there comes here. When the public over there comes here, what we think is that even we have our houses. Would we fill water first, or would they? Think on this. When we finish filling our water, we say," you fill the water."

Man 3: In this, BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) is also involved, everyone is involved.

Man: You sit, he is talking. Now we have our houses here. And if in our houses the water is not full, and when it is full, it is our duty to let them fill. The public from there comes.

(not audible)

Sohail: We wanted to know this, because when people go to the BMC and say that we need to increase the size of the six inches pipe. Then what does BMC say is that, "when we have metered connections distributed, we will even increase the quantity of water according to their need." But what has happened in this area is that there are no metered connections. Then the government is not going to give water for theft, is it?

Man: Absolutely right. Whatever you have said is absolutely right.

Sohail: Do you think that whatever percentage of people are using the metered connection, do they pay their bills regularly?

Man: Private, every thing is private. This belongs to the BMC. If we don't get water in our houses, then even we fill water from here. If the water from metered connection from which we fill is not sufficient, we fill it from here.

Sohail: And people who come here from far neighbourhoods?

Man: They take it from here.

Sohail: And has there been any fights or quarrel?

Man: No, we don't fight, they take it very peacefully. Why? We don't let the fight happen. You fill the water with peace and take it with peace.

Sohail: Because it is normally seen that when people from far off come to fill water, it has resulted in fights.

Man: It does result into fights, but we let them take it with peace. There is no such tension or anything.
Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
We see that during Sohail's informal interview of the locals, a drunk man begins to voice his opinion. Shali, another volunteer, claims that the man is a Muslim, native to Aland in Karnataka; this area of the Andheri Plot has many migrants who are native to Aland. Hakim informs us of the sterotype concerning the Muslims from the Aland takula in the Gulberg district in Karnataka - that however alcohol is prohibited in Islam, they have a weakness for alcohol.

Also in the course of the conversation, we are made aware that the problems with the water supply are far smaller than those in other areas, such as the Bandra Plot in Prem Nagar. It appears that the people from the surrounding area come to the Andheri Plot to get water. The locals claim they have no problems with this arrangement as their water connections extend to their houses. One of the locals also suggests increasing the diameter of the pipe, in order to allow a supply of water to reach many of the other areas in Prem Nagar.

Sohail claims that after almost fifteen years of pestering the BMC, a new pipeline, with a twelve inch diameter, is finally being laid in Prem Nagar.
Aland
Andheri
BMC
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Gulberga
Idgah
Islam
Janata
Jogeshwari
Karnataka
Maidan
Mumbai
Muslim
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Sitawadi
alcohol
bills
connection
illegal
mosque
pipeline
plot
water

Man: What is with us is that - we have a connection in our houses, but then too we get less water. If we get less water, then we fill water from here.

Sohail: Do you know that the government supplies water free of charge? Only service tax is collected from the people. Actual water cost is not asked for. Only the service charge of bringing the water from the dam to the tap is what is being charged. Like this tap here... (The footage cuts)

Sohail: Like the supply of electricity has been handed over to a private company, in the same way what if the supply of water is being handed over to a private company. Since past three years this is being tried. So what do you think, the facility that brings you the water...?

Man: But why do you include the BMC? It comes from the company.

Man 1: One minute.

Woman: He is not finished talking.

Sohail: First, you answer my question.

Man: Yes, ask.

Sohail: The water system that the BMC is handling as of now, the way in which the supply of electricity...

Man: Yes. That is bound to happen.

Sohail: If same thing happens to supply of water, what do you think will happen? Will the facility be like the way it is, or will there be a change?

Woman: No, there will be a change.

Man: There won't be any change. No, there won't be any change.

Sohail: Now there is one scheme which will be going to get implemented in Mumbai, a first of a kind in India. That is prepaid system. The way in which mobile is prepaid, in the same way every house will have a meter with prepaid system in it. Like if we have balance in our meter, the water will come for 24 hours.

Man: We won't take it. We would only take the BMC connection. You don't understand, you don't have an understanding. Now, if they bring his scheme, what they are thinking is...

Sohail: So this meter should not come, as already after it many people are going to fight. But did you all know about the prepaid system in meter, or supply of water would be given to private companies?

Man: I know it. I don't know whether they know it or not. I have the knowledge what there is and what there isn't about water.

Sohail: In a hall, a ruckus; in it were people from here, who went to oppose against the privatisation of water, and a huge ruckus was created over there. Did you know about this? So how will you all try and save the BMC taps which provides you comfort of water? What will you all do?

Man 1: (not audible)

Man: We will go and ask BMC.

Sohail: What has happened in supply of electricity, the same will be applied to supply of water. It will be difficult for the people to stay.
Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Sohail informs the locals of the government's plan to privatise the process of the supply of water, similar to the privatisation of electricity. The method used will be prepaid system, wherein one will have to pay before receiving a supply of water; the system is similar to the prepaid recharges on mobile phones. The company to be involved in this project is called Castalia, which is based in France. However, the locals are unanimous against the privatisation process.

For more information on the prepaid water system, visit
http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/2008-June/003144.html
Aland
Andheri
BMC
Bandra
Castalia
Colaba
Colony
France
Gulberga
Idgah
Islam
Janata
Jogeshwari
Karnataka
Maidan
Mumbai
Muslim
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Sitawadi
alcohol
electric
government
meter
plot
prepaid
privatization
supplying
system
water

Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Sohail ends his conversation with the locals regarding the issues of the water supply in their area of Andheri plot in Prem Nagar. We see a few dried up pipes and taps, after which the camera pans in a lane called Gandhi chawl, rather more infamously known as Radhabai chawl.

The Radhabai chawl incident took place in the wake of the 1992-93 riots in Mumbai, where homes of Hindu families were set on fire. Shali belives that the chawl is called Radhabai due to the police beat in the area, also known as the Radhabai Chowki, whereas the chawl in question is known as the Gandhi chawl. The houses which were burned down have now been renovated, and are in use as a community resource centre by an organisation called Yuva.

Hakim found that the recollection of the incident reminded him of the riots he witnessed in Golibar, a settlement between Santacruz and Khar. However, he says "I could not recollect the entire episode, since I was 5-6 years old at that time."

For more info on the Radhabai chawl incident visit
http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1518/15181190.htm

For more information on Yuva and the community resource centre visit
https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/2007-June/009439.html
Andheri
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Gandhi
Golibar
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Man: (not audible)

Woman: Brother is just jealous.
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Radhabai
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Sitawadi
Yuva
center
chawl
community
plot
resource
riot

Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
We see a well that is no longer in use and has been filled with debris, in Janata Colony. This obvious implication here is that when the people started getting a regular water supply from BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation), they stopped using well-water, and caring about the well itself.

We also see a number of pipes with stones placed beneath them. This is done in order to stabilise the pipes. We can also clearly note the lack of available space, as people come out in the open to have a bath or to relieve themselves, depite the public toilet constructed for the same purpose. This also points us towards various issues which need to be raised regarding the area's hygene and sanitation.

The footage depicts the area of Ramgarh, which is situated on a hill top in Prem Nagar.
Andheri
BMC
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Sitawadi
debris
issues
pipes
plot
public
sanitation
supply
toilet
water
well

Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
We see the area of Ramgarh in Prem Nagar, which is situated on a hill top, next to the Western Express Highway. The ever decreasing availability of space has made people to build their houses even on the edge of this hill top.
Andheri
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Express
Highway
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Sitawadi
Western
hill
plot
top

Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
We see an overview shot of Prem Nagar. In the background, we hear a soft song from a Bollywood movie. Also, footage was shot when the volunteers of Aagaz and Akanskha were getting themselves acquainted with the workings of the handy-cam. The framing reveals the class structure and unequal wealth distribution in big cities, where you can have high-rise building on one side and slums on the other.
Aagaz
Akanskha
Andheri
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Sitawadi
class
distribution
high-rise
plot
slums
structure
unequal
wealth

Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
We see an overview shot of Prem Nagar, and playing softly in the background, we can hear a song from a Bollywood movie. Quite a bit of this footage was shot by the volunteers of Aagaz and Akansha, while they were getting acquainted with the working of the handy-cam. The camera captures the sun setting over the backdrop of a mosque for the Shia sect of Muslims. The green flag denotes a Muslim resident, much like the saffron flag denotes a Hindu resident. Hakims sometimes wonders what life in India would be like with all these divisions removed; if the tricolour had all the green and saffron are taken out from it...
Aagaz
Akanskha
Andheri
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Sitawadi
class
distribution
high-rise
plot
slums
structure
unequal
wealth

Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
We see the area of Ramgarh in Prem Nagar, focusing our attention on a signpost there. The 'Clean-Up' movement was a drive organised by the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) to keep the city clean. During this period, fines were imposed if people were seen littering or spitting around. The conditions of the surroundings lead Hakim to remark sarcastically, "I guess the BMC forgot to pay attention to slums of Prem Nagar, where only the sign-post has been erected." The irony of the situation lies in the fact that the area around the sign-post has become a dumping ground for garbage. And even more importantly, there are no facilities for waste, or dust-bins, as the litter is spread onto the roads.
Andheri
BMC
Bandra
Clean-Up
Colaba
Colony
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Sitawadi
drive
dumping
dust-bins
garbage
ground
littering
plot
spitting

Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
We see one of the narrow lanes of Prem Nagar. If you look carefully, you can almost see patterns in the water pipes that connect to the houses via these narrow lanes. And while some of these water connections are legal, a majority of them are illegal, or unauthorised by the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation).

Hakim notices the similarities between the pipes and the residents in Prem Nagar, "just as the pipes are legal and illegal, in the same way many residents over here do not have documentation to prove their existence in the area, whereas some have documentation such as a ration card or a voter's identity card."

The narrow lanes ensure that only one person is able to use them at a time. Hakim notes that the lanes remind him of his neighbourhood when he lived in Golibar Nagar, which lies between Santacruz and Khar suburb, thirteen years ago.
Andheri
BMC
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Golibar
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Sitawadi
authorized
card
connections
documentation
identity
illegal
lanes
legal
pipes
plot
ration
voter
water

Andheri
BMC
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Golibar
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Sitawadi
We see one of the narrow lanes of Prem Nagar. If you look carefully, you can almost see patterns in the water pipes that connect to the houses via these narrow lanes. And while some of these water connections are legal, a majority of them are illegal, or unauthorised by the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation).

Hakim notices the similarities between the pipes and the residents in Prem Nagar, "just as the pipes are legal and illegal, in the same way many residents over here do not have documentation to prove their existence in the area, whereas some have documentation such as a ration card or a voter's identity card."

The narrow lanes ensure that only one person is able to use them at a time. Hakim notes that the lanes remind him of his neighbourhood when he lived in Golibar Nagar, which lies between Santacruz and Khar suburb, thirteen years ago.
authorized
card
connections
documentation
identity
illegal
lanes
legal
pipes
plot
ration
voter
water

Man: Whether it done legally or illegally, the water comes fine in this area; people use it, there isn't much of a problem.

Durga: But there is a problem of water in the side of Ramgarh area.

Man: Yes, actually the problem of water in Bandra Plot is that there is misuse of water. And the second thing is that because of the unauthorised connections, water does not reach to the deluxe connections.

Durga: I mean, it is even said that... I mean, we even understood as we were studying that since it is on a height, the water is not able to climb up and the people take the illegal connections.

Man: Yes. This could be one of the reasons. But I am not able to deeply comment on this. But this is there, if you do research - see, it is on a height. And because of this, there is a possibility of difficulty in getting water.

Durga: As of now, how is the supply of water in this area?

Man: See, actually the water only comes in the houses of people if they are using a motor. Pump - you know pump, yes? - only if they use pump, they will get water. So, if they don't use the pump, then they will hardly get any water.

Durga: So, never did the people feel the need to go to the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) and complain?

Man: The people have tried it many times, and some of them have even done it, but I don't know of any outcome to this. Since the inquiry is not over yet, there has been no result.

Durga: How was the water earlier? I mean, did it come or not? I mean, is the water problem recent phenomenon, or did it prevail even in the past?

Man: The thing about water is that, earlier we had to face lot of problems in terms of water, when we were small. Our parents tell (us) that they had to go too far to get water, very far. The used to bring water on a hand cart in the pictures, they used to stand in line to get water. The elders in this area say that we have a lot of facility now, like taps at home and so on.
Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
The footage is shot in a chawl near Idgah Maidan. According to our volunteers, Shali and Durga, it appears that the majority of the residents are plumbers by profession. Durga is having a conversation-cum-interview with a person who is a plumber himself. During the conversation, it becomes apparent that since some areas, like Ramgarh, are situated on a slope, the supply of water is less due to the lowered water pressure. People overcome this situation by using an electric water-motor, which pulls water from the pipes with force. Also, a decade or two ago, people had to fetch water from far off areas as there was an insufficient water supply; contrast this with the present, where people have the water pipes that extend to their homes.

Durga believes that one of the main reasons for the water pressure dropping on the slopes is the fact that the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) personnel in-charge of releasing water to the area do not open the valves completely, which results in low pressure. The residents of Prem Nagar beieve that these actions are actually communal in nature, sparked by the fact that Prem Nagar is primarily a Muslim dominated area, whereas the personnel in charge of the valves are Hindus.
Andheri
Andheri
BMC
BMC
Bandra
Bandra
Colaba
Colaba
Colony
Colony
Durga
Durga
Idgah
Idgah
Janata
Janata
Jogeshwari
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Maidan
Mumbai
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
SQ
Shali
Shali
Sitawadi
Sitawadi
agenda
agenda
communal
communal
electric
electric
motor
motor
perception
perception
pipes
pipes
plot
plot
plumbers
plumbers
pressure
pressure
profession
profession
supply
supply
water
water

Durga: So do the people have taps in their houses on an individual level, or do they have a taps shared by a groups of ten - fifteen people?

Man: You are absolutely right. A connection or line is shared by maximum of ten - twelve people.

Durga: Ten - twelve people.

Man: They divided it.

Durga: And does everyone get water equally?

Man: Even if they don't get water, the people adjust to it.

Durga: They install the motor?

Man: Yes, they install the motor.

Durga: How do they get billed for using the motor?

Man: They pay according to what they are billed for using the motor.

Durga: Everybody gets together and pays.

Man: No, each of them use the motor individually in their houses and hence, they pay individually.

Durga: Individually, means whoever has installed the motor in their houses uses it for themselves.

Man: They use it themselves, and pay for the electricity bill.

Durga: I thought everyone gets together and shares the cost.

Man: No. Everyone keeps the motor in their own houses. And if they do not use the motor, they won't be able to recieve water, because then it creates lot of problems in getting water.

Durga: So, without motor, water won't be coming.

Man: Water won't come.

Durga: So then, when we talk of illegal connections, how did illegal connections happen? Why do people not take legal connections?

Man: See, I don't have a deep knowledge about this, the illegal connections. But what I have been hearing is that there are unauthorised connections, and people do opt for them. As long as people get water, they use it. If not, then they don't.

Durga: For how many years does one recieve water?

Man: I don't have any knowledge regarding this - as in, for how long one can recieve water, the period and the time by which it (connection) expires. Though, if the connection is legal, then one recieves water properly and one has to pay the bills perfectly. It is the same, even in our area. The connection we have, we recieve the bills for the same. We get the bill and we pay it.

Durga: Maybe in your area. But in the area on the other side, they do not get bills.

Man: The people living in the area where in they do not get billed will be able to give you more information on this.
Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
We see Durga in conversation with a plumber, discussing the fact that the residents of Prem Nagar usually form groups to pay for a legal water connection i.e. one water connection is shared between six to twelve families or houses. The monthly bill is then divided among the number of houses, though the connection is registered under the name of one of the residents. However, the bill for using the electric water motor is paid for by the individual who uses it, as it becomes part of that individual's electricity bill. Moreover, the expense for using the electric water-motor has become compulsory; due to the low water pressure, a person will be unable to get any water unless an electric water motor is used. The person who is being interviewed indirectly admits that illegal water connections are in place in the area, although he refrains from admitting how long an illegal connection works.

Durga finds that the illegal water connections tend to last approximately for the duration of a year, after which it dries up. This could be due to the fact that many illegal connections take place from a single source. After the pipe dries up, the residents are once again forced to set up another illegal water connection. This then explains the sheer number of pipes in place on the roads in the area.

Hakim believes that the man is merely pretending to be unaware of the illegal connections in the neighbourhood, as it seems unlikely that a practicing plumber would not draw what appear to be obvious conclusions.
Andheri
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Durga
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Shali
Sitawadi
bill
connection
electric
illegal
legal
motor
pipes
plot
plumbers
profession
shared
water

Durga: How do people use water? I mean, in barrels. How do the people store water?

Man: See, everyone has created storage place for water - be it in barrels, be it tanks like Sintex - people create storage space based on how much water they require throughout the day, and based on their usage capacity as a household.

Durga: At what time do you all receive water?

Man: We receive water by four o'clock.

Durga: Okay, when you become a member in order to receive water, how much money you need to contribute?

Man: See, it depends on the number of members and is divided accordingly.

Durga: So, you all do not got to BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) and apply. You'll give money to the plumber, he then will give the money to someone, and then he gets the connection from them for you all.

Man: See, regarding the plumbers, we have plumbers even in our family. So, like in every work, there is a middleman. Like nobody goes to the minister directly, one needs to contact his assistant first. The assistant passes on the message to the public and to the minister, and that is how he works. In the same way in plumbing, the plumbers who give the connection first approach the office and work on the set up and then get the connection to people's houses.

Durga: What are the documents needed for getting the connection?

Man: As per my assumption, the document which they ask for is the Ration card.

Durga: Ration card. Only ration card? What about ID proof and so on?

Man: ID proof. Maybe, I cannot confirm that, because I have not made any connections.
Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
We see Durga chatting with a plumber based in Prem Nagar. During the course of the conversation, we discover that people in the area have to keep barrels (drums), apart from the main water tank, for the purpose of storing water. The number of barrels may vary according to the need of the residents. Also, there is no set amount of money paid to obtain an illegal water connection; the amount varies depending on the number of people sharing the connection. And it seems that plumbers in these areas tend to act as middle men between the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) and the residents.

Durga believes that the plumbers keep a large margin over and above the basic costs, to earn a commission for simply acting as middle men. It appears that in order to receive a legal water connection, one has to have a ration card along with some sort of proof of identity; this is probably the reason so many people opt for an illegal connection where no documentation is required.
Andheri
BMC
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Durga
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Shali
Sitawadi
barrels
card
commission
connection
documentation
identity
illegal
legal
plot
plumbers
profession
proof
ration
water

Durga: So, on this side where you live, say, Amina Nagar...

Man: Amina Nagar is different area. This area is different.

Durga: What is this area then?

Man: This is Prem Nagar.

Durga: Okay, so is there any problem regarding water in the whole of Prem Nagar?

Man: There is a problem of water, for sure. The problem is that there is a shortage of water; sometimes there is very little supply of water. Because, see, for a single connection there are ten users. So, they receive water hardly for half an hour or forty-five minutes. Water comes at around 4.30 and stops at around 10. Then calculate the number of people who fill water. It does lead to shortage of water. And the people around here, who are senior and need to work, like the corporator...

Durga: Does the corporator here help with these issues?

Man: See, about this what I want to say is that she has installed connections for hand-pumps in many areas around here, but not in our area. I wanted to discuss this issue with her, but I am not able to set time apart for this. I want to ask our corporator that why has she not installed the connection for hand pumps in our area like she has done in many other areas, even when we are facing the shortage of water supply.
During Durga's conversation with a plumber from the area, we begin to see that the shortage of water in the area is further complicated by the fact that there are just a few supply connections shared by a number of the area's residents. The plumber appears to have a number of complaints for the corporator of that area - though the corporator has built bore-wells in other areas of Prem Nagar, the area where the person interviewed resides does not have a bore-well facility. He finds this unfair as the area faces an obvious shortage of water.
Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Andheri
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Durga
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Shali
Sitawadi
bore-wells
connection
corporator
plot
plumbers
profession
shortage
supply
water

Durga: But hasn't she tried getting a pipeline in this area? There is no direct pipeline here, only for the Bandra Plot like Meghwadi and so on.

Man: Now wherever there are main connections of BMC, and from where it is accessible, BMC gives the connections from that area. So the whole group doesn't go to ask permission for the connection, like the group of ten members. They go to the plumber who plays the middle man. He goes and conducts an inquiry, does the setting, and gives a connection. He charges for the connection and for his labour. It is simple, every one earns.

Durga: I mean for the pipeline, like when we see in Sanjay Nagar and Sarvodaya Nagar, there are pipelines brought in by Shiv Sena and Congress. Isn't there a system like that over here?

Man: Is it free of cost?

Durga: They get it for free, and only have to pay as per the meter. This is their system.

Man: Actually in here, everyone has a personal connection/ line. The corporator who has installed bore-wells in the surrounding area, hasn't installed bore-wells in our area. So when it gets installed in our area, only then will I be able to say how we use and what is the cost.

Durga: Has the corporator done any good work for development in your area, since she was elected?

Man: She has done many works since she was elected - by lanes were renovated, and...

Durga: Toilets, etc.

Man: Yes, she repaired them, is helping people. Now how is she helping people is what I have not seen, but have heard that she is working.
Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
We see Durga in conversation with a plumber from the area. The conversation covers certain key issues, such as the fact that there is no dedicated pipeline for supply of water in Prem Nagar, as there are for neighbouring areas like Meghwadi, Sanjay Nagar, and Sarvodaya Nagar, and therefore any plumber approaches the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) would have to obtain their permission to set up a connection from an existing pipeline for the areas in Prem Nagar. The plumber would then be paid not only for his services as a plumber, but is also paid an extra amount for acting as a middle man in setting up this connection.

The discussion also explores the fact that there are no taps sponsored by political parties in Prem Nagar. However, it is notable that the corporator has built bore-wells in some areas. The corporator has recently renovated some of the lanes, and is involved with welfare work in the area.
Andheri
BMC
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Durga
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Sanjay Nagar
Sarvodaya Nagar
Shali
Sitawadi
bore-wells
commission
connection
corporator
pipeline
plot
plumbers
profession
supply
taps
water

Durga: Do you want to share your childhood memories about water?

Man: Yes, I would like to; though during my childhood I got everything and haven't faced any problems, be it water or anything else.

Durga: Everything was fine.

Man: I haven't faced any problems regarding water. Even if there was a shortage, my parents would store. I mean, they used to get it, though I can't recollect my memories of childhood. But once we matured, we have seen and faced water problems. When there is no water, it is very difficult for a normal person even to cook meals. Because it depends on water. Because we need water to cook, for bath, for toilet; nothing happens without water. So, when there is a shortage of water, everyone has to face (this) difficulty. Not only us, but even people from the backward area, who are not able to buy an electric water-motor. Imagine about people who don't have the electric water-motor; how do they use water? How would they store and save water?
Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
The conversation follows the plumber's childhood memories of water; he feels that water is an important source of life, and is needed for everything we do. He sympathises with people who belong to the backward class and have no access to electric water motors, and therefore face acute water shortage.
Andheri
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Durga
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Shali
Sitawadi
acute
backward
class
electric
memories
motor
plot
plumbers
profession
shortage
water

Durga: Now BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) is planning to introduce twenty-four hours water supply.

Man: No, I don't have a clue regarding this.

Durga: Water will be available for twenty-four hours. Like we charge our mobile by card; in the same way if you insert the card in the meter, you will get water. This kind of system, the cost will remain the same, maybe even less. This is the kind of system they are planning. So, do you want to say anything about it?

Man: Definitely, I would like to say - implementing card system is fine in its own sense. Like Mahatma Gandhi freed the salt from tax, through the salt struggle, and after many years it has happened that a packet of salt costs rupees ten or rupees twelve.

Durga: You think, the same system would happen here?

Man: Yes, definitely. This is India, and this is Mumbai; even water sells. They can do it, provided that they are capable enough to handle it, that it could last in the long run. People like from the lower class, who are (?), who toil hard in the day to earn hundred, or hundred and fifty rupees for their meals, they even have to afford the electricity bill, rent.

Durga: The electricity bills have increased in recent times, since Reliance.

Man: Since Reliance, definitely; it is a fact and there are no two opinions about it. It is in front of everyone and is a known fact. So, I want to say that people should think. Those by the grace of God, or by their own ability, are in the BMC, or those who have the power, money and source and are on a position, should think of the normal people.

Durga: So, you mean that prepaid system should not be there?

Man: It shouldn't be there. Because if it does, then you think over it, about those who don't have cash. Nobody has cash throughout twenty-four hours. If the cash isn't there, people would have to worry about water.

Durga: Even if the bill is not paid once, then too it will work.

Man: People get water - few things need to be changed, there are adjustments, there is humanity. See, there are two things in humans; one is society, and the other is humanity, and work happens accordingly. So if the prepaid system is initiated, then you think - if there is no card, the mobile is off.

Durga: Thirsty.

Man: People will die of thirst.
Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
We see Durga in conversation with a plumber from the area. The conversation covers certain key issues, such as the fact that there is no dedicated pipeline for supply of water in Prem Nagar, as there are for neighbouring areas like Meghwadi, Sanjay Nagar, and Sarvodaya Nagar, and therefore any plumber approaches the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) would have to obtain their permission to set up a connection from an existing pipeline for the areas in Prem Nagar. The plumber would then be paid not only for his services as a plumber, but is also paid an extra amount for acting as a middle man in setting up this connection.

The discussion also explores the fact that there are no taps sponsored by political parties in Prem Nagar. However, it is notable that the corporator has built bore-wells in some areas. The corporator has recently renovated some of the lanes, and is involved with welfare work in the area.
Andheri
BMC
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Durga
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Meghwadi
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Sanjay Nagar
Sarvodaya Nagar
Shali
Sitawadi
bore-wells
connection
corporator
pipeline
pipeline
plot
plumbers
prepaid
profession
supply
system
water

Man: And then what will happen is - people will start looting for water. They will dig here and there, there will be an increase in unauthorised connections. People will cut the lines in which water comes through a prepaid system so that they can get water. You understand? This could have negative effects.

Durga: Too a large extent.

Man: As per my thinking, it should not happen. Water is one thing on which nobody can claim authority; everybody is entitled to use it.

Durga: One would have to decline, if anybody came to their house to drink water, citing that, "it is a prepaid meter and we cannot give it."

Man: I think this is absolutely wrong according to me. Now it depends on what the world thinks, and what it does.

Durga: And you were saying some thing about the bore-wells, which Sabera Shaikh has installed in some areas.

Man: I have heard about that.

Durga: Do they drink that water, or it is just for daily use?

Man: See, since it is not installed here, I would not be able to comment on it. But what I have seen in villages, that people drink the water from bore-wells and even use it. I mean, the water is clean and not dirty. Now...
Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
We see Durga in conversation with a plumber from the area. The conversation covers certain key issues, such as the fact that there is no dedicated pipeline for supply of water in Prem Nagar, as there are for neighbouring areas like Meghwadi, Sanjay Nagar, and Sarvodaya Nagar, and therefore any plumber approaches the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) would have to obtain their permission to set up a connection from an existing pipeline for the areas in Prem Nagar. The plumber would then be paid not only for his services as a plumber, but is also paid an extra amount for acting as a middle man in setting up this connection.

The discussion also explores the fact that there are no taps sponsored by political parties in Prem Nagar. However, it is notable that the corporator has built bore-wells in some areas. The corporator has recently renovated some of the lanes, and is involved with welfare work in the area.
Andheri
BMC
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Durga
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Meghwadi
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Sanjay Nagar
Sarvodaya Nagar
Shali
Sitawadi
bore-wells
connection
corporator
pipeline
plot
plumbers
profession
taps
water

Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
We see Sohail's uncle's residence in Prem Nagar. Another volunteer, Harikesh, is interviewing Sohail's aunt regarding the water problems they face in the area of Prem Nagar. Our attention is particularly drawn to the fact that the residents all share one water connection - the number is varied, though the the connection is taken in the name of only one of the various residents sharing it. The residents pay the sum of rupees six thousand to get the legal connection, with a recurring expense of rupees two hundred per month for bills, though they haven't received any bills yet.

Durga believes that for a legal connection, a resident receives the bill once quarterly i.e. once in three or four months. However, despite paying these amounts, it appears that the residents still suffer a shortage of water. And while people use the electric water-motor to draw water from the pipes, there is always the fear of a child being shocked inadvertently.
Woman: It is the story of water.

Sohail: I mean, from where did people use to fill water, from the spring? She already started recording; she is recording me.

Durga: Shame - shame.

Harikesh: Can you give us some information?

Woman: First of all, we don't get water.

Sohail: Who's it?

Harikesh: The tap connection which you have, is it the metered connection or?

Woman: It is metered tap. Even in this, we hardly get water. Earlier when I had non-metered tap, we couldn't get water unless we had used the motor to extract water from the pipes. In this we don't get enough water.

Harikesh: The metered tap that you have, are you the only member of it or there are more members?

Woman: Five members. Even in the metered tap there are five members, and it has cost us six thousand rupees. And apart from that, rupees two hundred per month for each house.

Harikesh: In whose name is this meter?

Woman: That main - Farzana, the meter has been taken in her name. Five member.

Harikesh: So when you get the bill for this meter...?

Woman: Till now, we haven't received a bill.

Harikesh: You haven't received the bill yet.

Woman: We have paid rupees six thousand.

Harikesh: And when you receive the bill, is it decided that only after seeing the bill you will pay?

Woman: No, rupees two hundred is being accumulated. For each house rupees two hundred is being accumulated.

Harikesh: And the tap which you had previously, in that you...?

Woman: Absolutely no water.

Harikesh: Absolutely no water.

Woman: Absolutely no water. We had to extract water using the motor; the children are around, there is always the fear that someone will get electric shock, or something will happen. That is why we got the metered tap for rupees six thousand. Even in that there is an expense of rupees two hundred per month.

Harikesh: The connection that you have got. For this, the connection that you have got.

Sohail: Eh, I said cut.

Harikesh: What?

Sohail: I said cut. Hi Durga, what do you want to shoot? What, what do you want to see?

Harikesh: Whatever you got to show.
Andheri
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Durga
Harikesh
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Sitawadi
Sohail
bill
connection
electric
legal
motor
motor
pipes
plot
problems
shock
shortage
supply
water

Harikesh: You get it from BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation). If the BMC that supplies water to your tap - so if that water BMC sells to a private company, do you think then you will get properly?

Woman: It won't come. If it comes, it won't come properly. It will come and go. It will come less and will go. Again there will be tension of the motor.

Harikesh: And the meter that you have, the way in which you receive the bill by the water, do you think it will be the same way or would it be different?

Woman: In the meter, however, we will get water. But if the members increase, even that will close down.

Harikesh: No, like we talk about your bill - like you get your bill, like six thousand rupees for six months, for two months it could be five hundred or one thousand rupees. So, will you get your bill in the same way, if this is sold to a private company?

Woman: How do I know that? I mean...

Durga: No, what he is saying is that private means - like this electricity was of government earlier, now Reliance has taken over it. Now, the expense of the Reliance bill is a lot. It is happening in the same way for water.

Harikesh: How much is your bill for electricity?

Woman: Rupees five hundred, or six hundred.

Harikesh: How much was it before?

Woman: Two hundred, two hundred and fifty.

Harikesh: So how much is the difference?

Woman: A lot of difference.

Harikesh: In the way it was sold to Reliance, we incur loss, meaning our bill has increased.

Woman: It will be a loss.

Harikesh: Do you think it is right?

Woman: Now, in the metered tap, if all the members are billed three hundred rupees, it's not a problem. So if they sell...

Harikesh: Like in here, did the people earlier use the water from bore-wells?

Woman: There is no bore-well in here.

Harikesh: Earlier.

Woman: Where is the bore-well? People have been asking to install a bore-well, but they are not installing it. There is no bore-well.

Durga: It is not there from the start.
Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
We see Sohail's uncle's residence in Prem Nagar. Another volunteer, Harikesh, is interviewing Sohail's aunt regarding the water problems they face in the area of Prem Nagar. The people are apprehensive, and are doubtful that they will receive water if the process of supplying water is handed to a private company. Also, since it wouldn't be under the government, chances are that the people would be charged far more than the price they pay currently.

Furthermore, due to the shared pipelines, although the water pressure is far reduced, there is a consequent reduction in expense. According to Durga, the monthly expense for electricity has increased since it was privatised via Reliance, a private firm. There has been no bore-well facility in this area of Prem Nagar.
Andheri
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Durga
Harikesh
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
Reliance
SQ
Sitawadi
Sohail
bore-well
connection
electricity
expense
firm
plot
pressure
private
supply
water

Durga: Sabera Shaikh, the corporator over here.

Harikesh: Sabera Shaikh, the coporator over here, has in different areas has installed bore-well pumps. So what (about) in your area?

Woman: She installs the pumps according to the people, and builds the lane according to the people. She cannot do anything else. She is biased to those who are equal to her, she does not favour poor people like us. If we go to her with a complaint, she won't take action on it. If somebody else goes, she will take the action properly; but she won't take action for poor people like us, but she will properly do it for those people. Eight annas (fifty paise) for two. Eight annas (fifty paise) for two.

Harikesh: Fine. So, you have given us this much.

Woman: They don't help the poor. All who come in the elections, they don't help the poor. Eh, that is for one rupee. They look at the people and then help. They don't help poor people like us. They don't do it for the poor. They do it for the people equal to them.

Harikesh: So, what do you think? Should there be a bore-well tap in each house?

Woman: Bore-well should also be there, and tap should also be there. It may happen that a pipe has cracked, or there could be a loss, there will not be water in the tap; then at least one can use the bore-well.

Harikesh: Okay, the water which you receive in your house, is it clean?

Woman: It comes, often there is soil and other things which comes with it. It is not absolutely clean. Soil and other things do come along. During monsoons, it gets more dirty.
Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
We see Sohail's uncle's residence in Prem Nagar. Another volunteer, Harikesh, is interviewing Sohail's aunt regarding the water problems they face in the area of Prem Nagar. Her displeasure is quite evident at the mention of the corporator of the area. Although the corporator, Sabera Sheikh, has installed bore-wells in some areas of Prem Nagar, this particular area still does not have bore-wells. The women alleges that the corporator is biased and only helps people of her stature, and does not care about the poor. Durga states that to an extent, the issue of there being a bias is true; the corporator has developed areas in which her associates or party workers live. However, she also notes that people do not trust anybody from politics, since they believe that persons nominated for elections never help the poor.

The woman believes that along with the municipal water connection, they should also have a bore-well connection, so that their supply of water continues unhampered if ever a leakage occurs in any one of the pipes. Also, the water provided by the municipality has soil and other particles in it. And this situation is worsened in the monsoons.
Andheri
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Durga
Harikesh
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Sabera Shaikh
Sitawadi
bore-well
connection
corporator
election
leakage
municipal
people
pipes
plot
politics
poor
supply
water

Andheri
BMC
Bandra
Colaba
Colony
Harikesh
Harikesh: The mineral water which gets sold - bottled water, the water which is sold for ten rupees, twelve rupees - is selling it a right thing at this cost? The water from the company which is being sold expensively for ten rupees a litre or twelve rupees a litre; is it right?

Woman: It is right. It is right for those who travel, they don't have bottles or water. It is right for them. How are the people with family going to buy it? Doctors say that by drinking that water, your health remains good; it is clean water, the water is filtered.

Harikesh: The water which you receive isn't that clean?

Woman: They say it gets filtered and comes here. That is why they earn two paises, by packing it in water. Even the water at home is used in a proper way, by filtering it - by boiling it, like filtering it.

Harikesh: Does the water which you get at you house remain clean?

Woman: That is also clean, but it is necessary to filter it. Or else soil and other things come along with it. Rust is always there in the pipes, it is going to come. We extract it by a motor, the waste is going to come. When you pump it, the waste is going to come out.

Harikesh: Do you have to use the motor for getting water in your house?

Woman: Without the motor. Since the metered tap is installed, we can fill the water without the motor.

Harikesh: And the illegal line, do you have to go to the plumber for it?

Woman: I haven't drunk a glass of water from it.

Harikesh: No, do you have to talk to plumber for it? Or you have to talk to the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) to install the tap? The new tap that you have got, was it installed by the plumber or...?

Woman: Only plumbers install it. They check in which of the pipes the water is running or not, and they connect it to us, and charge us three thousand, four thousand, five thousand rupees; whether the water comes or not. They install it, the water comes for two days and then stops.

Harikesh: So do you make a complaint regarding this?

Woman: Water comes in the tap which is billing; it does not come in the other tap, we don't know from where they connect it. Water will come for a week or for a month, and then will stop.

Harikesh: Okay. Thank you for the information that you have given to us.
Idgah
Janata
Jogeshwari
Maidan
Mumbai
Prem Nagar
Prem Nagar, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai
Ramgarh
Ramgarh
SQ
Sitawadi
Sohail
We see Sohail's uncle's residence in Prem Nagar. Another volunteer, Harikesh, is interviewing Sohail's aunt with regard to the water problems they face in the area of Prem Nagar. It appears that the people in this area receive water which requires filtering as there is soil and other waste in it, especially if the water is extracted by a electric water-motor from the pipes. Also, the price at which packaged drinking water is sold is ideal for travellers, but not for households. And while people prefer an authorised water connection to the unauthorised connection provided by the plumbers, they find that the water dries up after a time. The plumbers charge anywhere from three thousand rupees to five thousand rupees for installing an unauthorised connection.

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authorized
billing
boiling
connection
drinking
electric
filtered
illegal
motor
packaged
pipes
plot
plumber
soil
unauthorized
waste
water

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