Mumbai voices its demands before civic body polls

Mumbai: Civic amenities in this mega city are nothing to gloat about but with the impending municipal elections next month, people are coming forward to put their demands before political parties aspiring to get control of the richest municipal body in India.

Their wish list is a long one, comprising the usual unheeded complaints: demand for clean drinking water, good roads for motorists and safe pavements for pedestrians, a check on the hawker menace, more green and open spaces, better hygiene and health care.

A corruption-free administration is a long-desired wish but with that is a demand for accountability and transparency.

While the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party combine currently controlling the municipal body hopes to get another term, the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) combine in power in the state is also geared up to woo the electorate.

The Congress is even planning to invite Rahul Gandhi to campaign in Mumbai for a day as it would make a significant impact on the fortunes of the party, it is felt. It would increase the morale of candidates and increase their chance of winning, said a party man.

The Congress is trying to win over slum dwellers by bringing forward the cut off date for regularisaton of slum dwellings.

According to Sanjay Nirupam, Congress MP, the city cannot do away with slums as a large chunk of workers providing various services live in these. The cut-off date of 1995 for the regularisation is not feasible since at least "100,000 slums have come up after this date and these people cannot just be thrown away", he said.

Nirupam also felt New Delhi had no problem in providing funds but what was needed was willpower on the part of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to implement projects.