Mumbai: Dosa-ster at Matunga East

Dosa idli sambhar chutney mdash all allegedly found rotting in the sewer line of Manirsquos Cafeacute kitchen not to be confused with Manirsquos Lunch Home at Rambaug Lane in Matunga The neighbouring Kamal Kunj society has filed a complaint with BMC citing continuous sewer overflows from the kitchen onto the roadResidents said they are forced to keep their windows shut 247 due to the unbearable stench The BMC has stated that a new sewer line can only be laid after the monsoonKamal Kunj resident Asha Mehta points to her window which stays closed round the clock due to the stenchAccording to the landowners the kitchenrsquos 100yearold drainage line was blocked two years ago after a nearby building underwent redevelopment They claim that a new sewer line is in progress Following a nuisance complaint the BMC has decided to demolish the kitchen shed and seek a permanent solution to the drainage issueHowever they also confirmed that digging permissions required for sewer work will only be granted postmonsoonThe residents point to the overflowing drainage line from Manirsquos Cafeacute kitchenThe BMC further clarified that the new sewer line will be constructed by MHADA using MLA funds and an executive engineer has been appointed for the taskResidents of Kamal Kunj which shares a boundary with the kitchen allege that the kitchenrsquos drainage is disconnected from the BMC system Landowners Sunil and Chetan Karia told midday that while a drainage line exists it is blocked and not connected to BMCrsquos network Inside the kitchen food waste is filtered and packed in garbage bags but dirty water overflows from the clogged line and spills along footpath into stormwater drains meant for rainwaterChetan Karia right shows how they hired staff to regularly clean kitchenrsquos drainage line and installed filters to prevent food waste from clogging it PicsAshish RajeAsha Mehta a groundfloor resident of Kamal Kunj Society said ldquoWe have to keep our windows shut all day due to the constant flow of dirty water This kitchen has been operational for two years and wersquove made multiple complaints but nothing has been done Most residents here are senior citizens The smell worsens at night If any of us fall ill Manirsquos Cafeacute and the BMC will be held responsible We just want a solution mdash either the kitchen shuts down or a proper sewer line is provided We cannot face this stink through the monsoonrdquoJayesh Daftari landlord of Kamal Kunj Society added ldquoThe smell from the kitchen is unbearable due to the rotting idlis dosas vadas chutneys and sambhar Dirty water flows nonstop during operating hours The BMC started sewer line work months ago but it was abruptly haltedrdquoChetan Karia landowner Sunil Karia landowner Kumar Nadar ownerpartnerAnother resident Rajesh Sawla said ldquoWe keep our windows permanently shut We need fresh air but we canrsquot even stand near the windows anymore This kitchen supplies food to three outlets in Matunga yet its drainage system is a disaster Despite complaints the BMC has done nothingrdquoLandowner Sunil Karia said ldquoOur 100yearold line got blocked after redevelopment nearby Same line is used for the temple kitchen and the house in the same compound The BMC line is too far mdash we need an 805 x 105 metre extension from the kitchen to the main line MLA Kalidas Kolambkar and others are helping us Once trenching permission is granted postmonsoon work will beginrdquoHis brother Chetan Karia said ldquoWe have all necessary permissions to run the kitchen which is rented out to Manirsquos Cafeacute Wersquove installed filters on the sewer line to prevent food waste from entering it Only wastewater flows out Wersquove also hired staff to clean and disinfect the drain regularlyrdquoKumar Nadar ownerpartner at Manirsquos Cafeacute said ldquoWersquove been running this kitchen for two years and maintain hygiene We serve clean food to three outlets The line exists but lacks a BMC connection The landowners are helping us manage the overflow and we hope the issue is resolved soonrdquoSpeaking to midday BMC Assistant Engineer Abhijeet Jain Sewerage Department FNorth Ward said ldquoWe gave an NOC to the landlord to extend their sewer line to a BMC chamber located 25 feet away The original line was blocked due to a dispute with the neighbouring society MLA Kolambkar is helping with funding MHADA had started work earlier but lacked BMCrsquos permission so it was stopped Wersquove collected excavation charges from the landlord Work will begin after the monsoonrdquoBMC Assistant Engineer Sagar Karpe Building amp Factory Department added ldquoWe issued a demolition notice under the MRTP Act after receiving complaints A speaking order has also been issued and the illegal kitchen shed will be demolishedrdquo