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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday September 8,
2005
Politics certainly rules
the roost in Mumbai city. As word of the Concerned Citizens’
Commission’s visit to Jeri-Meri spread, local corporators got into their
face-saving act. Coupons for aid were distributed by local politician
Anna Malai, whose wife Sau Lalita is a corporator. This was obviously
aimed both at assuaging the residents’ anger and at attracting people
away from the CCC hearing.
As if this were not
enough, Anna Malai also got garbage from some of the worst-affected
localities cleared up. Ironically however, this garbage was then dumped
in the Mithi river! This enraged local residents such as such as Ram
Dulvai, Naguma and Baba Tanvi Sheikh, who immediately objected, knowing
that such dumping and blockage of nallahs and rivers was a key cause of
the flood in the first place. In response the contractors got abusive
and threatened the women. A local activist of Citizens’ Option named
Yasin then took the threatened women to the police to lodge a complaint.
Constables were immediately sent to the site to bring the situation
under control.
Meanwhile at St. Jude’s
High School, over 200 people made written depositions today and over 40
deposed orally before the panel. It was clear that over 40 per cent of
the population in areas such as Azad Society, Indra Nagar, Shanti Nagar,
Illappa Chawl, Periyara Chawl, Thanaji Nagar and ogther areas
had received no aid whatsoever. Overall Jeri Meri is one of the worst
hit areas and one of the most neglected.
Incidents of high fever
vomiting, and illness are still common a month and a half after the
floods. There is an urgent need for proper medical studies, as indicated
by the case of Shanu Sheikh who is still suffering from intense burning
boils all over his body, possibly the result of chemical exposure. Men,
women and children are still suffering from fever and chills.
The CCC now moves to the
New English High School at Bandra East, near Kherwadi Police Station for
a hearing on September 10, 2005, from 11 am to 3 pm.
Contact:
Debi Goenka 98200 86404
or Dolphy D’souza 98202 26227
Ashish Fernandes 98190
11429
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