No power for 5th day as residents struggle

BHIWANDI: With no power supply for the fifth day in a row, simple chores like collecting waste, cooking, attending online classes and working from home have become unmanageable for residents of Tata Amantra Housing Society at Kalyan Junction here.

The sanitation staff had to climb 33 floors to collect garbage. Mathadi workers hired to climb the stairs to supply drinking water to the residents living on higher floors had to carry water cans on their shoulders. “We are a group of five hired to supply water to the residents. I climbed 28 floors as one of the residents needed drinking water,” said a Mathadi worker.

The power supply to four of the towers was restored on Saturday morning. However, the lifts of the towers were still not operational.

The Tata Amantra society has 12 towers with 24-33 floors. The residents claimed that they have invested anywhere between ₹45 lakh and ₹1.40Cr on each flat. “We have decided to collect the waste without any delay regularly as it cannot be left at home for many days. A few of the sanitation staff have stopped coming as they had to climb the stairs.

Whatever manpower we have is divided in shifts to do the job,” said Heena Asar, 45, one of the residents who heads the sanitation section of the towers.

“Some residents let their pets to urinate in the passage areas as they cannot climb the stairs. This is unhygienic and we need to make sure the area is cleaned regularly,” added Asar.

Another resident, Vinod Suhamda, 31, who lives on the 13th floor of one of the towers, said, “I have stopped going to work as there is no water in the house. Where should we go and complain about our ordeal? I have managed to shift my parents from here since it started flooding. However, I am stuck here with my wife and pet.”

The society’s underground parking was flooded twice since July 19. The entire electric meter rooms and water tanks were submerged in flood water leading to no power and water supplies to the residents.

Komal Patel, 32, another resident, said, “I’ve been using rainwater to flush the toilets. My children cannot attend online classes as there is no electricity. All other areas in Bhiwandi have got power and water, and we are the only ones suffering even after investing lakhs of rupees.”

Tata Housing did not issue any fresh statement on Saturday.

PRAFUL GANGURDE/HT PHOTO A senior citizen is helped down the stairs at Tata Amantra as lifts are not operational.