Health Risks Loom Over Mumbai University Boys’ Hostel Due to Drainage Issues
Mumbai, 17th October 2024: Students residing at the Jagannath Shankarsheth boys’ hostel, managed by Mumbai University, are encountering serious health risks due to clogged gutters and a burst underground drainage pipeline at the Churchgate facility. As a result, wastewater from the hostel has been accumulating on the premises, creating unsanitary conditions that have reportedly caused some students to fall ill. In response, Mumbai University has initiated repair work.
Students have reported that this problem has persisted for over two weeks. One student explained, “The drain water starts leaking out of the gutters and accumulating on the ground around 10-11 am. Although the water seeps into the ground within a few hours, the debris from the gutters remains on the surface.” This situation has resulted in a persistent foul odour throughout the hostel grounds.
Another student highlighted the additional risk posed by standing water, stating, “This accumulated water has turned into a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Several of us have fallen ill due to these ongoing unhygienic conditions.” Frustrated by the lack of action, they sought assistance from Yuva Sena, the youth wing of Shiv Sena (UBT), after their complaints went unaddressed.
Pradeep Sawant, a member of Yuva Sena and a Senate member at Mumbai University, expressed his dismay, saying, “It is disgraceful that students at Mumbai University are living under such conditions. The clogged gutters have been a problem for many days, clearly indicating that the university administration has ignored the concerns raised by students.”
In response to the allegations, the Mumbai University administration issued a statement indicating that they had commissioned cleaning of the gutters as the issue persisted. However, during this process, it became apparent that the underground drainage pipeline was damaged. The administration assured that repair work has been prioritized and will be completed shortly.
