Oh when the tarps

Oh when the tarps

Oh when the tarps turn blue again

It’s time for us to welcome the monsoons

Oh when the tarps turn blue again.

This refrain sung to the tune of “When the Saints go marching in” could very well be sung every June or end May when the city of Mumbai has little bits of blue tarpaulin covering up leaky roofs. It’s strange but all through the year you can find yellow tarpaulin in spaces that are under construction or used as lean-tos for makeshift homes, but come monsoon and the tarps turn blue again. These bits of blue are seen all over the city including the best areas in town, held down with bamboos. But how secure is this protection against the rain especially when winds can get squally? and why is the tarpaulin blue?

Is this because blue tarpaulin is stronger? Or does blue tarpaulin attract the rain?