The Parlekar and DP

There is a lot of discussion about the DP and its implications on South Mumbai and Aarey. I want to focus on the problems that are coming for Parlekars.

Praja Foundation along with UDRI have come up with a good handbook (more like a workbook) to help citizens arrive at some conclusions about the DP. The DP, if you see, is a large complex document. Further one will have to do much secondary research to put the data, dp plans in perspective and come to some conlcusion about what can happen to a particular area. This is possible only for persons with good hold on numbers and domain knowledge about urban and town planning. So here it is- it is not possible for even an educated intelligent Parlekar to respond to the DP without spending a good few days understanding the DP. Anyway, I have tried..........

Mapping of the KEast

GIS has been used for mapping. An age-old problem is clubbing Vile Parle and Andheri together- areas extremely diverse in culture and all dimensions. But that is another story.

Overall
WRT the DP- as it is KEast is below standard with respect to every facility such as health, education, recreation, open space, transport and waste management. The DP sets out no plan to set right these problems.

FSI
Now the flight corridor areas have a height restriction.  Almost all open spaces in Vile Parle East are encroached by one or the other organisation. The DP states no plans to acquire new open areas or develop them in a time-bound manner.

Waste management-
All our liquid

Development plan and number of objections

There are reports that the number of letters of objection received by Municipality regarding the next DP is just 15 thousand. As the population of Mumbai is in several lakhs, the MCGM says that this number of objections is miniscule and wants to go ahead with the development plan as it is. This is a case of gross mis- interpretation.

MCGM has asked for letters of opinion and not votes. Each letter represents the opinion of several persons; it is possible that each family, institution has written their objection in one letter. The letter also represent the opinion of persons who care, have understanding of the matter at hand. They also have the time and sophistication to pen their thoughts and send them to municipality. So their opinion carries weight and is not just a number.  If 15thousand have objected to the DP the true numbers should be taken as being nearer a lakh or so. This is the statistic also used in 'head of the household surveys' of population or health care matters. This is sufficient reason to have a re-think of the DP.

Basically asking for opinion on a document that is erroneous and full of vague approximations is a insult to the thinking and hard working public of Mumbai city. At least have the decency to produce a decent error- free document for re-view; then the MCGM can deliberate about citizens opinions. Do we pay the MCGM to turn in shoddy work like this? Instead of asking for opinion on this piece of rag- bag stupidity, they should fine the officials and surveyors concerned for doing such a poor job. 

PLASTIC BAGS

Plastic bags harm the environment in many ways. But practical problem is- forgetting is the reason many Parlekars have to fall back on taking a plastic bag from the shopkeepers. So Shruti and I shared an idea in our meeting: Why not remember for other Parlekars?

I collect all plastic bags that I get during shopping and clean them. Periodically I give them to my bhaji wala. He is very happy to get them and gives to the customers. Shruti also has been doing the same thing. So if any Parlekar forgets to get his/ her bag, our plastic bag can save the day. Re-using the plastic bags can reduce the environmental impact to a great extent. And the bhaji wala is happy as he gets sturdy bags of all sizes- so different customers' needs can be met.

This thing can be done by many Parlekars. Even if we use cloth bags, it is useless if we keep forgetting them and buying new ones all the while. So we can start giving plastic bags to the shop keepers, thus reducing the need for new plastic bags and reducing burden on environment.

Paryavaran mitra

We have now formed a small group of like- minded Parlekars and called it 'Parle paryavaran mitra'. It is just a group- not an organisation or institution. We meet up to discuss environment related issues- share our ideas.

We communicate through our e-group and whatsapp group. Upon discovering so many like-minded Parlekars we all are feeling very happy and as if we are in a 'wadi' with all people around us exactly understanding us without any explanation from our side.

We welcome many other Parlekars to join.......paryavaran mitra

The waste- busters

The atmosphere is serious- scholarly, the voices are clear, arguments very respectful and logical- at regular intervals there are grunts of approval and sighs of wonder........the topic of this passionate discussion being 'waste management'. Welcome to the life of waste busters!

These people fantasise about waste. They surprise bhaji walas, sugarcane wallas  by asking them for peels and baggasse. They can go to the extent of buying a separate mixer to mince the wastes- so microbes have it easy to break. They think nothing of getting up on Sunday mornings for a walk to the nearest cowshed to get their weekly supply of slurry to accelerate the compost. By the time they reach their 40s they have heard of Dandelar, Belvalkar, Excel industry and done the rounds of almost all sugarcane juice shops, municipality offices and know where good cow slurry can be sourced from. A true waste buster, however does not talk about his/ her passion- unless another kindred soul is spotted. And so we three, Anuradha, myself and Aniruddha form a group of waste-busters as we went to check out Aniruddha's home waste management kit.

All ordinary Parlekars pinch their noses, shut their eyes and generally screw their faces at the mention of waste. It is only the outstanding Parlekar who actually gets excited at its mention. Last Saturday we were at the home of one such Parlekar, Mr Aniruddha Deshpande. Passionate about composting and totally in love with environment he has been studying composting for the last decade. He has spent hours thiking, dreaming, designing, testing, talking, making kits for composting wet waste.

The advantage of his system over vermi-composting is- can be kept covered, takes very less space and time, is not at all fastidious, the microbes remain safe unlike earthworms which could be eaten by rats and one can put all variety of 'wet stuff' cooked,spicy, oily anything- so thats a big advantage. Now I want to see if this system can absord sanitary napkins- a highly hazardous pollutant but very necessary for any woman's good health and hygiene.

His invention using anaerobic waste composting in a double bucket system is really very good and appears to be effective. It is described in his brochure in my previous blog. Really there was no smell, no nuisance surrounding it at all. And it can even be kept indoors- an elegant solution for balcony- less Parlekars. This method can be adopted by all of us- put an end to transporting wastes. We can turn waste into manure and use it in our gardens and societies.

Poop- scoop for dog- loving Parlekars

Poop- scoop

As I stood waiting with my son for his school bus, I noticed several dog walkers leading their dogs into our lane for their ablutions. As I enquired about the where these dogs lived, I was astounded to know they come to Parle from as far as Andheri, to------shit. Apparently the lanes of Parle are quiet, tree- lined and dogs feel totally relaxed here- so they shit quickly. I am really angry with this attitute and have declared my lane off- bounds to such dog- walkers.

One particular fellow, however saw my point and has now been bringing a 'poop- scoop' which he proudly showed me. With this the doggie poop can be moved to a side and covered with mud. So the nuisance is less.

I still feel this is not the solution. Parlekars have large houses- but their dogs shit outside, servants use public utilities, clothes dry in building flowerbeds and footwear and dust-bin are always outside the main door.

At least buy a poop scoop- dog owners!

Sunny Days are here again

The Sun is shining very brightly nowdays- perfect time to bring out my solar cooker. I have this ‘Tulsi’ solar cooker. I have to lug it to the terrace and set it for cooking.

my solar cooker

ready to go into the solar cooker

The first thing I did was to cook a kg of raw mangoes to make kairi panha. I find the solar cooker eminently suited for this preparation.

The slow cooking brings out delicious flavor. And it is easier to fit in my schedule, I can pick it up when I return from work. By that time, its cooked, cooled and ready for the next stage. And after straining and mixing with jaggery it will go back in cooker tomorrow for simmering. Day after tomorrow kairi panha concentrate will be ready!

Sun- made Panha is delicious.