Oh, Gosh! Not right under the nose!

I was in Mumbai the other day and fascinated, as always, admiring this lively city. This time being elections in Maharashtra, Mumbai appeared a mini political capital with election rallies, posters of various candidates of different parties splashed all around, blaring loud speakers, street and “Jugghi” cluster children dancing to the fancy tunes and jingles of political groups and maddening traffic. The city bore a chaotic festive time market place look. People however, were enjoying without any complaint.

To entice voters, many top political and corporate world leaders and many small time “Neta’s” sweeping roads during election campaigns of their localities in a bid to project their social work attitude as also to impress the Prime Minister that they stand by his recently launched “Swach Bharat Abhiyan”. Whether they actually brace it is a big question. While going around for my work, I enjoyed seeing this as also observing a top corporate leader sweep the road. I hope he engaged in this act with true intentions.

Staying on the 21st floor sea-facing apartment of a premium locality, where I often put up during my visits to Mumbai, I often emphasis to the apartment owner how beautiful and breath-taking view one gets peeping from the large window of the apartment opening towards the sea which allows in fresh morning cool breeze with sea all around, fishing boats far and near in sight and the distant horizon. This scenic view is a treat to anybody’s eyes and the minds only if one gauge straight ahead and not looks down. If one looks down the building hard reality of life is visible. Very true of Mumbai the “Mayanagri” or the financial capital of India which either has more than enough for some while nothing at all for others. Looking down to the beach side right below the building was a horrible sight.

I have noticed this strange sight when ever I visit Mumbai but thought of penning down something this time due to the Prime Minister’s ongoing massive “Swach Bharat Abhiyan” for a clean and green India which every State in India for political reasons vow to its accomplishment. Also, the days I was in Mumbai, the Prime Minister coincidently was there too addressing election rallies. His speeches these days invariably touch upon the cleanliness drive issue.

Many of you must have guessed what horrible sight I am referring to. For the ignorant ones I will tell you! The scenic view of the sea I have just mentioned vanishes into the blue the moment one peeps down the window or worst if one ventures to go to the beach side for a stroll in the morning when and where because of the low tides the sea water retreats far from the shore till at around 12 pm. Hundreds of “Jugghi Jhopri” cluster people, the people living in the nearby shacks - men, women and children, seen defecating all around the place cleared up because of water retreat and that which forms part of the beach. Shamelessly they would watch you eye to eye just if unknowingly you go to the beach. Chances are getting back hurriedly out of embarrassment you might step on somebody’s faeces. Horrible isn’t it! Viewing this from top floors of a building is even worse as you get a bird’s-eye view of the entire area. This view is like the Paradise Lost!

To add to this, stinking filth seen to settle around the place with hovering crows and sea birds, during low tide time every day, as the people living in the nearby shacks and otherwise also along with the merry makers of the last evening who may have visited the beach side and thrown paper and plastic bags, cups and all kinds of rubbish there.

A pathetic view of littered with filth, a Mumbai beach during low tide time. The pipeline seen in the picture leading from land to sea is a cool place for defecators in the morning.

I do not ever see any civic body or an NGO during my stay there engage in a cleanliness drive of these stinking filthy beach areas, alongside human settlements. Seeing this I only imagine if the fate of Prime Minister's "Swach Bharat Abhiyan" in a metro like Mumbai was such, what it would be in other states, small towns and remote parts of India.  

I asked the apartment owner about this. He laughingly answered; this is a common sight one finds in most or practically every sea-shore side locality. I was greatly dejected to hear this. Isn’t it pitiable and shameful for all of us?

The educated lot residing in sea facing buildings which are mostly the posh localities of Mumbai should rise to this cause. The Mumbai civic authorities should also take strict cognizance of this fact. To address this issue there is an urgent need to come up with mass toilets for people who defecate in open as the Prime Minister rightly emphasis. Some more CSR efforts by Mumbai based Corporate Houses, NGO's or any volunteer organisation needed for the cleansing drives least we will deface the beauty of beaches.