Prevent throwing of debris, cowdung in nullahs, municipal officials told

After the three additional municipal commissioners visited different drains across the city, they have asked civic officials to monitor the nullahs so that people don’t dump garbage in them.

After the three additional municipal commissioners visited different drains across the city, they have asked civic officials to monitor the nullahs so that people don’t dump garbage in them.

HT Image

Additional Municipal Commissioner (eastern suburbs) Aseem Gupta, who visited the Mithi stretch, has directed officials to identify the spots from where untreated water is discharged.

Gupta also asked officials to prepare a report on the dumping of waste and sewage in Mithi river.

Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) A.K. Singh, who is in charge of the island city, visited the JK Chemical nullah at Wadala on Saturday where the Hindustan Times panel had visited and has directed civic officials to clean the drain.

Singh also instructed officials to complete the retaining wall on either side of the drain so that people don’t throw debris in it. “I have instructed officials to make a flow chart of all

nullahs so that it is easy to overcome a flood-like situation if it arises,” he said.

Manisha Mhaiskar, additional municipal commissioner (western suburbs) said: “Civic sense in the common man needs to change.”

Gobar nullah near Milan subway was rated the lowest (one on 10) by HT’s panel of experts because it was found swamped with cowdung from the cowsheds in the vicinity.

“The cowsheds need to shifted outside the city, but this has not been done due to lack of political will,” said Vidya Vaidya, member of the H-West Federation and NGO Citispace, and HT panelist.

“Yes, that is a problem,” Mhaiskar said. “We are working out a way by which all the dung from these cowsheds can be processed and officers have been asked to monitor that these cowsheds don’t dump waste in the nullah.”

“The civic body doesn’t monitor the work properly and hence contractors get away doing a hasty job,” said P.R.Sanglikar, former chief engineer, storm water drain department.

The debris removed from the Chamdawadi nullah was deposited on its banks and if it rains all the silt will flow back in, observed the panelists.

“We have asked them [BMC officers] to immediately transport the silt from there,” said Mhaiskar.