For over five years, around 20,000 families living near Pestom Sagar in Chembur faced chronic problems of noise and air pollution coming from nearby illegal commercial garages and workshops. Their repeated complaints to the civic authorities failed to bring any relief. Irked by the indifference from the authorities, the residents filed a Right to Information (RTI) plea and have now got their way. The civic officials have admitted that the RTI information will help them to come strongly against the illegal garages.

“We have been fighting tooth and nail to ensure that our neighborhood is free of any noise and air pollution. There are around 15-20 garages here which were constantly engaging in activities that disturb the sanctity of the place. They would also encroach on the footpaths to further their business,” said Dr Vijay Sangole, joint secretary of the Pestom Sagar Residents Forum.

The residents would keep complaining to the local ward office and would get only temporary relief. “We needed some long term solution, while civic officials would come and issue warnings, and things would go back to square one within days,” said Dr Sangole.

About four months ago the situation became graver when the garages started expanding their business. This is when they decided to file the RTI.

“We found out that not only these shops didn’t have relevant license but also that most of our complaints had gone in vain as action against these garages were taken only twice in the last five years,” said G R Gaonkar, member of the senior citizens association in the area. “Whenever we approached the civic officials in the past, they would only give us ambiguous answers. But taking the RTI route has indeed been fruitful,” Gaonkar added.

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