Mumbai informal settlements face heat crisis without reliable power

Tens of thousands of Mumbai residents in informal settlements lack reliable electricity, forcing them to rely on dangerous unauthorised connections. Residents of tin-roofed homes in areas such as Patra chawl in Mankhurd and Ambedkar Nagar in Malad face indoor temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius, leading to heat-related illnesses like dehydration, skin rashes, and low blood pressure. Mongabay-India reports that residents pay about Rs 600 monthly to local 'light mafia' operators for erratic power that can barely charge a phone or run appliances.

Community members are organising collectives and pursuing legal action. Sunil Jaiswal, a social worker in Ambedkar Nagar, is working with a lawyer to file a Public Interest Litigation for basic amenities. Ajuma Sheikh, a 63-year-old resident of Patra chawl, says food spoils quickly and children cannot study in the dark. The settlements are built on land owned by the Mumbai Port Trust, Railways, or forest departments, leaving them outside the legal electricity grid. A survey of South Asian cities found tin-roofed homes are hotter than concrete homes and even outdoor temperatures.