Here's what the municipality can do for you

By a Staff Reporter

June 09, 1999

Problem-free living is not going to be an utopian vision anymore with the launch of the Citizen's Charter in Mumbai.

This comprehensive document provides citizesn with information to facilitate easy and speedy solutions to everyday civic problems.  IT is a booklet that enables every citizen to interact more effectively with the municipality.

For each department of the municipality that is involved directly with the citizens, information is provided on the nature of services, the qulity of services that can be expected, and who is responsible for these services.

The Citizens' Charter describes eleven departments - solid waste management, water works, sewer age, road maintenance, traffic, public health, licences, environment, education, electricity and transport.

Praja, a non-partisan voluntary organisation has worked with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai to bring out this document meant to be the city's guide for reducing problems.  This is the first time that there has been a partnership between a citizens group and the government.

There is a three-tier complaint redress forum.  First, complaints are directed to the ward office with a stipulated time frame for action.  If the problem remains unsolved, the citizen is now empowered with information to move up the hierachy of the MCGM until the problem is solved.

This concise, user-friendly attractive document is more thatn a directory of services of the Mumbai municipality. Scheduled to reach out to about 10 jlakh citizens who would utilise it in times of crisis, it is therefore of utmost importance that citizens realise their role in making the municipality work for them.

Here, in brief, is what the different dpeartments do:

1. The Solid Waste (Garbage) Management Department

Functions :

• Sweeping of public roads.
• Maintenance of public toilets.
• Collection and transportation of garbage.
• Disposal of solid waste and animal carcasses.
• Sanitary measures to keep the city clean.

• Depositing garbage on any public property, or in drainage channels or canals.
  
• Permitting offensive liquid to flow on to a public street or open space.  Unhygienic storage of harmful material.
  
• Dumping debris on roads, into drains, in public dustbins.
• Contact : 261 8802/ 511 6773/ 612 4666.

• Provision of potable drinking water.
• Operation and maintenance of water works' intallations.
• Conveyance and distribution of water for private and public users.
• Revenue collection.

• Misse of fir hydrants.
• Unauthorised tapping of water connections.
• Unauthorised use of water, i.e. change of user.
• Unauthorised installtion of loft tank.
• Use of booster pump.
• Unclean overhead tanks in private premises.
• Contact : 308 1471/511 5103/ 642 2311.

The Sewerage Operations Department
Functions :

• Maintain sewerge infrastructure.
• Construction of new drains.
• Connect private premises to the municpal drains.
• Attending to drainage problems.
• De-water and de-sludge septic tanks periodically.

• Projection enroachments, obstruction or damange to a drain.
• Passing liquid into a drain not designed to carry the liquid.
• Contact : 300 4721/ 5274 1313/ 631 8681.

Maintain sotrm water drains.

• Construction of new drains that collect and transport rainwater to the sea.
  
• Contact : 422 2621 / 510 6238 / 635 3594.

• Construction and maintenance of roads. 
• Repairs to potholes and bad patches during the monsoon.
• Resurfacing the roads.
• Beautification of arterial roads through private sponsorship.
• Widening and improvement of existing roads.
• Granting permission for construction of private roads.
• Repairs and maintenance of footpaths.
• Removal of rank vegetation from roads.

• Obstructing the safe passage of the public. 
• Contact : 437 4351/ 510 6230/ 628 9334.

• Reinstatement of trenches.
• Provision of traffic control measures like speed-breakers and zebra crossings.
  
• Provision of street lights and parking facilities.
• Co-ordination of digging activity.
• Towing away of vehicles abandoned on the road.
• Contact : 494 7638 (ext. 216) / 262 1922.

• Registration of births and deaths.
• Regulation of places for the disposal of the dead.
• Family welfare services.
• Control of communicable diseases.
• Immunisation.
• International health certificates.
• Food sanitation and the prevention of food adulteration.
• Control of trades likely to pose a health hazard.
• Insect and pest control.
• Impounding stray cattle.
• Immunisation and licensing of dogs.
• Registration of private nursing homes.
• Medical relief through hsopitals.
• Ambulance and hearse services.
• Contact : 413 5587 / 511 5130/ 623 6186.

• Checking unauthorised construction of stalls on roads, footpaths and drains .
  
• Granting licences to hawkers.
• Controlling trades and the storage of hazardous articles.
• Permitting the display of advertisement.s
• Checking unatuhorised hawkers, shops and trades.
• Checking the storage of inflammable or hazardous chemicals.
• Contact : 262 1538/ 261 7653.

• Free education to all studying up to class VII in municipal schools. 
• Education in the language of the childran with eight different languages offered as the medium of instruction in municipal schools.
  
• Special education to differently abled children.
• All-round development of the students through extra-curricular activities.
• Contact : 414 2344/ 412 2344/ 414 3867.

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport Undertaking Department
Functions :
 

• New connections which also include augmentation of exsiting installations.
• Billing.
• Complaint, redress and restoration of electric supply in case of interruption.
• Contact : 283 1950/ 287 3961.

The Traffic Department
Functions -

• Concessions for passengers.
• Lost property.
• Reservation of seats in buses.
• Accident & claims cases.

• Travelling without a ticket.
• Travelling beyond the distance paid for.
• Contact : 284  1017/ 287 3961.