Railway and state police fired eight rounds in the air and burst seven teargas shells near the Bhayander railway station to disperse an angry mob early in the morning. According to railway authorities, about 300 residents of Nallasopara squatted on railway tracks disrupting rail traffic for about half-an-hour. The situation was brought under control by 10 am and suburban trains started plying between Vasai and Virar stations. Regular railway services were resumed only at 11.30 am, and no further disruptions were reported till the time of going to press.

The riots also threatened to spread north of Bhayander, when angry residentsmobbed the Nallasopara railway station raising anti-MBMC slogans. The trouble started when Rajdhani Express was delayed at the station by over five minutes. Just after the train was allowed to pass, a mob set on fire several dumps of sleepers lying near the railway tracks on the western side, while several women and childern squatted on the tracks. Anticipating more trouble, Western Railway stopped all long-distance as well as suburban services to Mira Road from 8.30 am onwards. Armed policemen from the Railway Protection Force and the state police resisted attempts by the crowd to drag burning sleepers on to the tracks. When lathi-charge and teargas failed to disperse the rioters, police opened fire in the air.

Stray incidents of arsoning were also reported from other areas like Navghar Road and Cabin Road where three private lorries were set on fire. A mob also tried to set two BEST buses on fire near Bhayander Naka, but timely intervention of the police prevented them from doing so. The situation wasbrought under control only after the police resorted to lathi-charge at both Navghar Road and Bhayander Naka. Over 15 people, including a woman, were arrested today from various parts of the town. Seven people have been arrested for yesterday's rioting (see box). It was as if residents had given rioting a break after promises were made by MBMC officials to restore supply last evening. Once they realised early in the morning that they were fooled, they just jumped into another round of protest. ``We will not sit quite till the nexus between the politicians and the tanker lobby is broken. More than 350 tankers, most of them owned by local politicians, councillors and even employees of the municipal corporation make at least five rounds daily.Residents allege that mostly the water scarcity is artificial. For, invariably during festivals the municipal water supply is stopped. ``These goons make a killing by charging outrageous amounts for a tanker,'' said Kantibhai Vyas, a resident of Jesal Park.

``Almost allcouncillors themselves have illegal water connections. The problem can be solved if the municipal authorities stop accepting bribes and giving out illegal connections,'' said another resident.

According to the MBMC budget proposals for 1999-2000, water supply to the entire Mira Road-Bhayander area has increased from 21 MLD (million litres per day) to 31 MLD in 1993. The budget, prepared by Bhalchandra Thakre, the administrator appointed for MBMC after the dissolution of the council, however, states that the increased water supply falls far short of thedemand.

On October 16, 1993, the council had resolved not to give any new connections in view of the scarcity. ``Despite this resolution, a large number of illegal connections were given by the authorities. This trend continues even today. As a result, while there are 9,578 official water connections, at least 2,500 more water connections are illegal. The number of such illegal connections could be even more. It is because of such a large number of illegalconnections, that the water scarcity is being witnessed despite the increase in total supply,'' the budget states.

indulging in illegal activities involving taking possession of government land, creating illegal tenancies and using intimidating methods to collect rent may please be supplied to this office at the earliest.'' Prasad has also urged the ward-level staff to cooperate. He has asked them to furnish complaints under the Metropolitan Regional Town Planning (MRTP) as well.

The first arrest under MPDA was effected by the Vakola police, who apprehended one Anthony Carlos last month. Charged with erecting illegal constructions and trespassing on state government land at Khotwadi in Santacruz (W), Carlos is currently lodged in the Nashik jail. This was followed by two more arrests in the western suburbs. According to a DCP with the Mumbai Crime Branch, the joint initiative is bound to yield results as the civic officials possess the relevant information regarding illegal constructions.

Though thelocal police stations receive several complaints regarding unauthorised constructions, they are not empowered to effect any arrests under the act without the BMC's cooperation.

Cause and effect

One of Chief Minister Narayan Rane's constant pronouncements after assuming office has been the declaration of a tanker-free Maharashtra by next year. In the last few days, the state government's ad and media blitz on this issue has particularly rankled Bhayander's denizens.

The GRP have arrested seven persons under various sections of the Indian Railway in connection with stone throwing incidents on Wednesday. The names include Gopal Prasad (28), Neloo Nidosh (28), Mohammed Ali (18), Mansingh Paras (18), Idris Yadav (20), Suraj Bharadwaj (18) and Ojayee Mandal (25).