Anger mounts as taps run dry in Madh villages near Malad: Residents forced to drink well water

MUMBAI: Residents of Patwadi village at Madh as well as other neighbouring villages are up in arms against the local authorities as drinking water taps have run dry.

According to a letter addressed to Mumbai city Guardian Minister and Malad MLA, Aslam Shaikh by the local Congress Block President Santosh Koli, (which was viral on social media), residents of Patwadi village at Madh have not been getting tapped drinking water for the last couple of weeks and are forced to drink well water.

The Patwadi village and other neigbouring villages are mostly inhabited by the Koli community – fisher-folk who comprise the original inhabitants of Mumbai.

Madh and Madh island, near Malad west is a traditional fishing locality comprising of a mix of Christians and Hindus who having been living in the area for generations in gaothans or clusters of traditional village homes.

Koli in his letter to the local MLA says that Mumbai should not treat its original inhabitants in such a fashion by denying them tapped drinking water.

He also warned that the residents are exposed to various water borne diseases as they are sourcing drinking water from wells and tankers for the last few weeks.

BMC ward officials were unavailable for comment.