The flurry of activity could be seen at Malhar Nagar, Ekvira Nagar, Chikale Baug, Narayanwadi and Santoshi Mata Road. Perched on a high-ground they may be, but on seven occasions in the last two years the storm water from Jari Mari nullah had forced them to shift their belongings to safer places.

"Where there is no choice we are taking away our TVs and fridges to our relatives till the rains are gone so that they are not damaged," informed Jadhav, busy packing stuff to be shifted to her brother's.

"After repeated assurances from the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) in the last 10 years nothing has happened," said Fatimabi Yunus, a resident of Chikale Baug. "It was first in 1973 when ourhomes were inundated with ankle deep water. Ever since the flood waters have been progressively reaching higher levels. ``The waters now reach our chest," she added.

"Last year we ended up losing all the foodgrains stored in the house as they went bad after being submerged," further said Jadhav.

The root cause of their woes was traced to the Sadhana complex (better known for the shop Roop Sangam) built in the centre of the arterial Jari Mari nullah in 1972. (Express Newsline carried a detailed report on the building on September 19, 1998).

The five-storeyed structure which has led to massive flooding in the main market area every year was built by local matka king Nanubhai Nagodia. After setting up shop here, Roop Sangam owner Premji Gala took over the entire liaising with the KDMC for the Nagodias. In 1990 then civic commissioner U P Madan had issued a notice to Nanubhai's son Deepak Nagodia stating that "the illegal building would be demolished as it was proving to be an obstacle to thewidening of the Jari Mari nullah undertaken under the mega-city project.''

When Gala approached the sessions court for a stay on the demolition in 1997, the court ruled in favour of the civic administration paving the way for demolition. Senior officials speaking on condition of anonymity admit that there "was a criminal waste of time in demolishing the structure then." Gala then moved the Bombay High Court, where his counsel Ramrao Adik claimed that the KDMC was `victimising' his client by insisting on demolition when the sewage could be released by an alternative route. Justice B N Srikrishna, who heard the case, had ordered the KDMC's city engineer and an expert appointed by Gala "to explore the possibility of an alternative route."

Not only has the expert committee not been set up to this day, the civic adminsitration has also failed to inform the court that an alternative route is impossible according to town planning officials. The 25-feet wide nullah flows from Rambaug to Joshi Baug, Azad Nagar,past New High School, Malhar Nagar and Jari Mari before flowing into the Kalyan creek. However, it narrows down to five feet under the Sadhana Complex since the neighbourhood is choc-a-block with buildings. In the event of a heavy downpour the water flows back and accumulates in the residential areas behind from where it finds its way into the market on the roads.

When contacted, KDMC Commissioner G T Bandri said, "Since the matter is still pending in the court I will not comment." He also could not say why the video recording of the havoc wreaked by the floods were not submitted to the court. "I am not quite sure. I'll have to make enquiries and find out," he replied.

Despite repeated attempts, Gala and Nagodia refused to speak.