Mumbai: As the monsoon season approaches, members from various political parties sharply criticized the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) administration during the standing committee meeting on Tuesday, alleging irregularities, inflated progress figures, encroachments along drains, and poor on-ground execution of nullah desilting works.
BJP Leaders Raise Concerns
BJP leader Ganesh Khankar, accompanied by party members and led by BJP party president Ameet Satam, visited the Usha Nagar nullah in Bhandup. Khankar alleged that debris from construction activities, plastic waste, and encroachments continue to accumulate beside drains despite annual desilting drives. He stated, "At Daulat Nagar, debris is lying next to the nullah. Plastic bottles are piling up near trash booms, and slums have come up along the drains. After carrying out nullah cleaning, whose responsibility is it to clear the debris? From where has all this debris come?"
Khankar demanded that the civic administration use satellite imagery to identify encroachments and hold officials from the building and factory departments accountable for failing to act earlier when these slums were developing. Referring to conditions in Ghatkopar, where he spotted an open manhole, Khankar reminded the city of the death of renowned gastroenterologist Dr. Deepak Amrapurkar during the 2017 Mumbai floods after he fell into a manhole.
Support from Health Committee Chairman
Health committee chairman and corporator Harish Bhandgire supported Khankar, highlighting an acute shortage of laborers for desilting works and urging the administration to take the matter seriously.
MNS and NCP Allegations
MNS’s Yashwant Killedar questioned the progress percentages shown by the civic body for works between the BKC connector and Mahim. He alleged, "They are claiming 40% of the work has been completed in areas adjoining my ward, but even 10% work is not visible on the ground. These figures are completely misleading."
Dr. Saeeda Khan, an NCP corporator, alleged that silt removed from drains was being mixed with debris before transportation. She said, "I stay near the Mithi river, and hardly any work has been carried out in Kurla. The river stretch there continues to be neglected. Outfalls also need cleaning. In the name of nullah cleaning, taxpayers' money is going down the drain."
Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress Remarks
Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Shradha Jadhav questioned how the administration arrived at completion percentages and suggested that corporators conduct surprise inspections of nullahs across the city.
Congress leader and corporator Ashraf Azmi alleged that contractors were being favored for commissions and questioned the penalties imposed on agencies for delays and poor work. He stated, "Many companies are brought in only to earn commissions."
Standing Committee Chairman's Response
Standing committee chairman Prabhakar Shinde said that since many slums had come up on collector land along nullahs, he would write to the district collector seeking action. He also mentioned that CCTV surveillance of nullah works would be explored to improve monitoring and accountability.
