BMC water, not pond, for Kolovery ritual
The ancient Kalina talao was more than just a source of water for the
locals. It played a key role in a wedding tradition called the 'Umbracha
Pani' . It is a ritual observed on 'Wedding Saturdays' , a day before
the nuptials, in this predominantly East Indian Christian community.
Today, residents are not thwarted by the disappearance of their pond but
have created an artificial one to adhere to their ancient customs, with
the pond water being replaced by the BMC's tap water.
In the tradition of 'Umbracha Pani' , relatives and wedding guests go dancing to the pond to draw water in pitchers. "The couple is blessed with water from the pond and have to bathe in the water the next day. Now pitchers contain BMC water from artifically created ponds," said resident Jeniffer Pinto.
In the tradition of 'Umbracha Pani' , relatives and wedding guests go dancing to the pond to draw water in pitchers. "The couple is blessed with water from the pond and have to bathe in the water the next day. Now pitchers contain BMC water from artifically created ponds," said resident Jeniffer Pinto.
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Disgusting depths
Friday, November 22, 2013
While the Mumbai University (MU) has already received a notice from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to fill its swimming pool, it seems there is some more work for the varsity. This pond in the Kalina campus has grown 12 ft high infected grass. The stinking water in the pond has become the breeding ground for mosquitoes. The place where the pond is situated was earlier a gathering spot for students but now the place is best avoided.
The pond was built by the varsity in the year 2007 at the instance of former Vice-Chancellor Dr Vijay Khole. This pond is adjacent to the teaching department and the canteen. Students have complained that the mosquitoes in the stinking waters have been making it increasingly difficult for them to attend lectures.
Yesterday, the ADC visited the pond and found out that the 15-feet deep pond, now looks like a field growing infected grass.
A student who did not wished to be named told the ADC, “We have to attend lectures in a building which is adjacent to this pond. The stinking water and the insects have been affecting us badly while attending lectures. The infected grass has also made walking beside the pond impossible. Students now ignore the spot for fear of falling sick.”
Last month the BMC had sent a notice to the MU, ordering it to fill its swimming pool as soon as possible. noting that the swimming pool was a breeding ground for mosquitoes which will result in diseases like malaria and dengue, the BMC had sent the order to the varsity.
Dr Naresh Chandra, Pro Vice Chancellor, MU was not available for a comment.
Restore our pond, Kalina locals tell poll candidates
MUMBAI: Assembly polls are just round the corner and residents of
Kolvary and Kalina villages (all East Indians) are hoping that the
candidates standing for election will take up their decades-long fight
to reclaim a pond behind the Our Lady of Egypt church, popularly known
as the Kalina church.
"The church and the village are 400 years old and the pond has been in existence even earlier. In the 1967 Development Plan, the pond was marked as a recreation ground but nothing happened till 2000 when all of a sudden, there was a concerted effort to fill up the pond,'' said Robert Jacinto, an old-time resident.
Since then, the East Indians have been struggling__first, to stop the filling up of the pond and now, to reclaim the pond. "The Constitution provides protection to natural water bodies but the BMC has failed to implement it. It has allowed the pond to be filled up,'' said Jacinto.
O'Neal Kinny, a resident of Kolvary village and founder chairman of the Mul East Indian Sanghatana Trust, was the first to file a complaint against the filling up of the pond. He blames the Congress for allowing the pond to be buried and the regular flooding in Kalina. "Despite complaints to the local MLA (Kripashankar Singh who is seeking election for a third time) and the Congress government, they did not stop the reclamation,'' said Kinny.
Singh refuted the charge, "It is not true that I have not taken up the issue. I have held meetings with the municipal commissioner and the chief minister. I have been assured that the BMC will file an affidavit in the Supreme Court, saying it must be maintained as a pond. I am assuring that if re-elected, I will ensure that the pond is restored,'' he said.
The Shiv Sena-BJP, too, has made the restoration of the pond an election issue. "I have been fighting for the pond's restoration for several years. The Congress wants to eat up the plot and is actively promoting the setting up of a club. We will not allow it,'' said Dinanath Tiwari, the saffron alliance candidate.
In 2000, the residents__under the banner of Kolvary Welfare Association__filed a case in the Bombay high court but lost when the court upheld that it should be a recreation ground. Last year, they filed an appeal against the high court order in the SC.
The Air India Colony, Indian Airlines Colony, Shastri Nagar, Kunchikorve Nagar, the worst affected areas during the 26/7 floods, are in the vicinity of the pond, pointed out Angelo Galbano, president of the association. "The pond discharges directly into the Mithi river. Had the BMC refrained from reclaiming the pond, it would have mitigated the disaster that followed the heavy rains,'' he said.
For decades, the residents had been using the water from the pond. "The housing societies that have come up on the periphery of the village have ample municipal water supply while we have to put up with a 15-minute muddy water supply,'' said Jacinto.
The villagers are demanding that the pond is restored on a priority basis, especially now that the city is facing a water crisis. "All that the BMC needs to do is put up a filtration plant which it is doing for wells. It will ensure water for the entire area,'' said Jacinto.
With the two villages together holding 10,000 votes, the residents are hoping that politicians will not turn a blind eye to the issue.
"The church and the village are 400 years old and the pond has been in existence even earlier. In the 1967 Development Plan, the pond was marked as a recreation ground but nothing happened till 2000 when all of a sudden, there was a concerted effort to fill up the pond,'' said Robert Jacinto, an old-time resident.
Since then, the East Indians have been struggling__first, to stop the filling up of the pond and now, to reclaim the pond. "The Constitution provides protection to natural water bodies but the BMC has failed to implement it. It has allowed the pond to be filled up,'' said Jacinto.
O'Neal Kinny, a resident of Kolvary village and founder chairman of the Mul East Indian Sanghatana Trust, was the first to file a complaint against the filling up of the pond. He blames the Congress for allowing the pond to be buried and the regular flooding in Kalina. "Despite complaints to the local MLA (Kripashankar Singh who is seeking election for a third time) and the Congress government, they did not stop the reclamation,'' said Kinny.
Singh refuted the charge, "It is not true that I have not taken up the issue. I have held meetings with the municipal commissioner and the chief minister. I have been assured that the BMC will file an affidavit in the Supreme Court, saying it must be maintained as a pond. I am assuring that if re-elected, I will ensure that the pond is restored,'' he said.
The Shiv Sena-BJP, too, has made the restoration of the pond an election issue. "I have been fighting for the pond's restoration for several years. The Congress wants to eat up the plot and is actively promoting the setting up of a club. We will not allow it,'' said Dinanath Tiwari, the saffron alliance candidate.
In 2000, the residents__under the banner of Kolvary Welfare Association__filed a case in the Bombay high court but lost when the court upheld that it should be a recreation ground. Last year, they filed an appeal against the high court order in the SC.
The Air India Colony, Indian Airlines Colony, Shastri Nagar, Kunchikorve Nagar, the worst affected areas during the 26/7 floods, are in the vicinity of the pond, pointed out Angelo Galbano, president of the association. "The pond discharges directly into the Mithi river. Had the BMC refrained from reclaiming the pond, it would have mitigated the disaster that followed the heavy rains,'' he said.
For decades, the residents had been using the water from the pond. "The housing societies that have come up on the periphery of the village have ample municipal water supply while we have to put up with a 15-minute muddy water supply,'' said Jacinto.
The villagers are demanding that the pond is restored on a priority basis, especially now that the city is facing a water crisis. "All that the BMC needs to do is put up a filtration plant which it is doing for wells. It will ensure water for the entire area,'' said Jacinto.
With the two villages together holding 10,000 votes, the residents are hoping that politicians will not turn a blind eye to the issue.
BMC plans Kalina pond makeover | Latest News & Updates at Daily ...
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