Mumbai's monsoon readiness: Oppn in BMC upset with shoddy work

After the monsoon audit by HT’s panels of experts disproved the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) claims of having completed 99% of the nullah desilting work, the Opposition in the civic body criticised the authority for its lax attitude.

After the monsoon audit by HT’s panels of experts disproved the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) claims of having completed 99% of the nullah desilting work, the Opposition in the civic body criticised the authority for its lax attitude.

“At the most, the civic body has completed 40-50% of the desilting work. There is high possibility of flooding in low-lying areas this monsoon,” said Devendra Amberkar, Opposition leader in the BMC.

They also targeted the ruling party Shiv Sena, accusing it of remaining silent about the shoddy work being carried out.

Trushna Vishwasrao, Sena group leader, however, refuted the allegations. Responding to HT’s audit, he said, “We are continuously monitoring the nullah cleaning work and the other repairs in the city. The BMC has cleaned the nullahs, but the encroachments along them are the main problem.”

Sena’s alliance partner in the civic body, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), also criticised the BMC. “The pre-monsoon work should have been over by now. The delayed monsoon has helped us or it would have been difficult for the civic body to control the flooding,” said Manoj Kotak, BJP group leader.