Mumbai monsoon mess: BMC to clean slums near nullahs in 10 days

With choked drains as its focus after Friday’s deluge in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to start a cleanliness drive for slums, especially those that have come up near minor and major nullahs.

With choked drains as its focus after Friday’s deluge in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to start a cleanliness drive for slums, especially those that have come up near minor and major nullahs.

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According to civic officials, slum dwellers and encroachers throw garbage and plastic bags directly into the drains, which block them, thus leading to flooding in the city. All deputy municipal commissioners and ward officers have been given 10 days to carry out the drive, and have been asked to continue with it throughout the monsoon.

The drive will focus on repair work and cleanliness of public toilets in all wards across the city. HT audit had also highlighted how garbage was clogging up the drains in the city.

Earlier this month, the civic body also undertook a major drive to remove unauthorised hawkers and clear unhygienic roadside eateries. The civic chief has asked the ward officers to focus on monsoon-related issues -- from checking the drainage system to carrying out drives against dengue, malaria and other diseases.

The BMC had earlier launched the Swacch Prabodhan Abhiyan to clean the slums in the city.