Thane: Fix water, encroachment and waste management issues, locals urge netas seeking votes | Mumbai News

As the city gears up for its upcoming civic elections, long-standing infrastructural and civic challenges like water supply, public transport, health facilities, public parking places, recreational spaces, encroachments, and solid waste management gain attention as residents and activists expect solutions from political parties. Even as parties are yet to announce their manifestos, TOI takes a closer look at the issues that could remain in public-neta interactions ahead of the polls and could significantly influence voter priorities.Water Supply: A city of nearly 25 lakh plus population draws around 590 mld water from various sources but still falls short of supply to a majority of households across parts of the city and suburbs. Residents from low-income settlements and even plush Ghodbunder Highway societies alike complain of how frequent shutdowns and repair blocks force them to rely on costly private tanker services. “The city desperately needs a dedicated water source to cater to its future needs,” said a resident.Health Infrastructure: Residents from several areas of the city complain of inadequate health care facilities, forcing them to rely on neighbouring cities like Kalyan-Dombivli or travel to Thane city or Kalwa for tertiary care treatment. Rohidas Munde, Shiv Sena UBT functionary from Diva, said despite approved plans for a hospital in Diva, the administration hasn’t started work on it yet. Even as the municipal corporation has announced a plan to scientifically tackle the stray dog menace, activist Satyajit Shah has urged for prompt and efficient implementation.Road Congestion: Commuters complain of witnessing a rise in travel time within the city limits compared to a few years back. “The lack of adequate public parking spots near prominent areas and illegal parking along arterial roads is the primary reason. There has to be a proper roadside parking policy and timely execution of it that can tackle the illegal on-road parking menace,” says activist Shashi Kumar Nair from Manpada.Transportation: Even as the city keeps growing at its seams and scores of residents rely on an affordable transport system, the municipal transport system presently falls short of matching pace. Several developing areas of the city and suburbs, primarily Ghodbunder, continue to be deprived of a good frequency of buses. Passenger activist Rafique Shaikh from Mumbra says the city needs improved services that can connect Mumbra, Diva suburbs, and Thane city with Mumbai, considering the growing demand and reducing dependency on the railways.Illegal Constructions and Encroachments: Activist Nitin Deshpande says Thane footpaths should be free of encroachments like vehicle parking, electrical poles, and stalls, which are left obstructing walkways, including sustained action on political banners installed on footpaths, posing safety and environmental risks. Residents also said they need a policy that can rein in illegal constructions in the city, which in turn deprives bonafide taxpayers of their share of civic amenities like water supply and others.Green Cover: The city is witnessing a surge in several developmental and infra projects that necessitate the displacement of green cover, raising alarm bells among experts. A recent expert study highlighted how the city was facing a rise in temperature due to the increased ratio of concrete structures, prompting the administration to mull a slew of measures like terrace gardening, among others, prompting activists to urge the corporation to take up the conservation of green cover in the city.Open Spaces and Recreational Parks:The city may have seen NaMo Central Park and Oxygen Parks being thrown open, but residents say the number is too few for a growing city. Many existing parks and grounds are proving inadequate, residents complain. “There are several reserved plots for playgrounds and parks in the city that need to be cleared of encroachments and made available for common public use,” says citizen activist Kasber Augustine.Solid Waste Management:Solid waste management continues to plague the city, with several residents complaining of frequent disruptions in the process, especially this year, which apparently was due to a lack of a dedicated system in place. While the administration wants big societies to reduce dependency on the civic machinery, residents claim that a policy that could incentivise could lead to a change.Air Quality:Though the official statistics claim good air quality in Thane, residents have been regularly complaining of pollution, mainly from vehicular emissions and construction activity, among others. Residents like Anubha Sahai of Hiranandani Estate said they have repeatedly flagged off the issue to the TMC and are awaiting a concrete roadmap by parties on how to tackle the issue.