Mumbai: With the monsoon season approaching, corporators across party lines have expressed serious concerns regarding the pace and quality of nullah desilting works in the city. Many have warned that Mumbai could face severe flooding if critical outfalls and drains are not cleared immediately.
Standing Committee Meeting Highlights
During a meeting of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) standing committee on Friday, corporators alleged that at several locations, only floating garbage was being removed, while deep silt and debris remained untouched. Questions were also raised about the actual quantity of silt removed, GPS monitoring of disposal at dumping grounds, and the lack of focus on chronic flooding spots.
Political Leaders Voice Concerns
NCP's Saeeda Khan stated that the administration was only removing floating material from drains, while crucial work related to outfalls and the Mithi river was being neglected. "If this continues, there can again be flooding during the monsoon," she warned.
Congress's leader in the House, Ashraf Azmi, questioned the disposal process and said the planning process begins too late every year. "Nullah cleaning should be decided in January-February itself. More than 50% of the work is still incomplete, and zone 5, which includes Kurla, Chembur, and Chunabhatti, is lagging. GPS devices are put on scooters and moved around to show fake movement. Mumbai is going to flood," he warned.
AIMIM's Zamir Qureshi demanded stricter provisions against erring contractors and said that house gullies directly lead to nullahs in the M-East ward. "Why are we repeatedly giving erring contractors a chance?" he asked.
Committee Chairman's Response
Committee chairman Prabhakar Shinde acknowledged that works in zone 5 were progressing slowly. "Most areas should be covered before the monsoon. We will conduct another inspection on May 25-26. Any contractor found deficient will face stringent action," he said.
