Over 1,000 residents of two housing societies in Borivali have decided to press the NOTA button on February 21. The members are upset at politicians as well as the corporation for resolving their water problem for the past four years.

 

La Vista and La Bellezza in Borivali (East) came up in 2010 and were granted occupation certificate (OC) by the BMC in 2013. But the civic body never provided the high-rises water connections, allege the members. There are 150 flats in each of the buildings.

 

Despite no water, the flat owners say they have been regularly paying bills running into several lakhs per year for water and property tax to the BMC while managing their requirement through tankers.

 

A society member said they have decided to show their dissent democratically during this elections by going for NOTA, which means they will be casting their ballot but won’t be favouring any candidate.

 

The societies have put a board at the main gates of the buildings appealing their members to note vote for any candidates in the BMC elections. IT professional Vidyut Mahadeshwar, who stays in flat number 1103 of C wing at La Belleza, said water has become a major issue for them.

 

“I stay with my parents, wife and daughter and every day I have to suffer due to water issues. My dad and daughter fell sick due to impurities in the tanker water. Every year, I pay Rs 16,000 to BMC for water bill, but not a single drop of water has been provided by the authorities.”

 

Anil Lad, secretary of the building, is pursuing the issue with the builder and BMC for many years, but in vain. “When we speak to the BMC, they just put the blame on the builder saying since the building does not have an auxiliary tank, they cannot provide a connection. If there was any issue with the building, then how come they issued the OC in the first place? And why are they not taking action against the builder?”