While the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), after four years, has still to repair the non-functioning solar panels at Doongerwadi, the newly elected Poona Parsee Panchayat (PPP) trustees have repaired/replaced the panels at their Doongerwadi. "We have overcome new challenges to see this vision come to life,” states a Facebook post dated March 16, 2025 by PPP trustee Marzban Irani. "This achievement would not have been possible without the donor, the tireless efforts of Sarosh Mistry and Zubin Jasoomoney of Avesta Solar and its hard working team.”
In another positive development, access to the Patel dakhma was facilitated thanks to a donation from vaccine billionaire Dr Cyrus Poonawalla.
Poona Parsee Panchayat chairman Marzban Irani (l) and trustee Tirandaz Irani
supervising repairs to solar panel at Doongerwadi (above)
In an email Poona community activist Mabrin Nanavatti pointed out "Because the hearse van or ambulance cannot enter the premises, several families face difficulties when their dearly departed are consigned to that dakhma as the bodies have to be transported on stretchers. Also, there is a flight of stairs at the entrance to the Patel Tower of Silence which makes it arduous for families to reach inside the premises. In fact, some months back a stretcher overturned and the body fell to the ground.”
Nanavatti wrote to the PPP requesting them to create an alternate entrance through which vehicles could enter the premises and be parked 10 ft from the bungli. The mourners could thus avoid the stairs and reduce the chances of mishaps recurring, he noted. The new trustees requested Poonawalla confidant Sarosh Bokdawalla to approach him and the latter immediately sanctioned the project without hesitation, Nanavatti stated.
Not only did Poonawalla accede to the PPP’s request, he has undertaken at his own cost the work of building a new road and a wall with a gate, adds Nanavatti.