(i) The biggest problem was housing. 70% of the working people lived in thickly populated ‘chawls’ of Bombay. Chawls were multi-storeyed structures, with one room tenements which had no private toilets. Rents were high. People had to keep their windows closed even in humid weather due to close proximity of filthy gutters, privies, buffalo stables etc. (ii) There was an acute shortage of water due to unplanned expansion of the city. People often quarrelled for a turn at the tap. (iii) People had to use streets and neighborhoods for various activities like cooking, washing and sleeping. There was constant fear of epidemics, specially like plague, due to unclean surroundings and too many people.