The Place Where I live...!!!

Since August, two of the four entry gates to Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Chembur have been closed, inconveniencing the 24,000-odd residents living within the complex. The worst affected are those living between central avenue and western sector.

On Saturday, the Anushakti Nagar Resident Welfare Association (ARWA) led a rally of nearly 1,500 residents to the main gate to demand the gates be opened.

“The hospital and the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (ARB) gates are only 800 mts away from the residential area; the main gate is almost 3 km away. We have to walk for 30 to 40 minutes to get out, and no rickshaws come to our area any more,” says N J Shukla, who lives within the complex.

The body approached the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) officials in October. “By then, DAE had even removed security cover for the Research centre, so we asked them to open the gates, but we have had no positive response,” said another resident.

When Mumbai Mirror contacted DAE, a senior official said, “We have sent a proposal to the police and are awaiting their response.”

DCP Nikhit Kaushik said, “The gates are closed primarily because DAE does not have enough security staff to check every vehicle coming into the complex. We cannot take a risk at this point, and so a clearance will be given only once they have adequate staff.”