Mumbai's Hidden Slums: Choked Gullies Breed Health Crisis

Mumbai faces a significant sanitation challenge within the narrow 'house gullies' of its old chawls. These cramped spaces between buildings, originally designed for utility lines, have become hazardous pockets choked with sludge, sewage, and waste.

These gullies, numbering nearly 4,943, are predominantly located in South Mumbai's older wards like C, B, and D. Residents in cramped tenements often discard household waste directly into these lanes, creating unsanitary conditions that attract pests like rats and mosquitoes.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) initiated weekly cleaning drives for these house gullies in 2013. Conservancy workers, often hired through NGOs, navigate these extremely narrow and often dangerous lanes, using specialized tools to clear accumulated waste, a task that can take hours for a single gully.

Despite efforts and a decline in their numbers due to redevelopment, these gullies remain a major public health concern. The BMC allocates approximately Rs 20 crore annually for their cleaning, yet challenges persist due to continuous waste accumulation and the difficult nature of the sites.