As the deadline for completing desilting in the city nears, members of the standing committee on Wednesday slammed the civic administration for unfinished work, which could lead to waterlogging in the monsoon. They alleged the contractors were giving misleading figures.
The civic administration told the committee that the details of the completed work will be given in the next meeting.
Like every year, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has to complete 70% desilting of all major and minor drains by the end of May. While 15% silt is to be removed during the monsoon, the rest has to be done after the rains.
Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar surveyed the work at several major and minor drains on Wednesday.
Mahadeshwar said, “I have told the officials concerned to complete the work within the stipulated time. I was told that nearly 5.45 lakh metric tonnes of silt is removed from the city’s major and minor drains.” Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ashish Shelar met civic chief, requesting him to speed up the work.
However, members of the standing committee alleged the administration is giving misleading figures.
Ravi Raja, leader of opposition, said, “In areas like Wadala and GTB, not even 30% of the work has been done. Civic officials, in connivance with contractors, are giving misleading figures on the progress of the work. The administration is not serious about the pre-monsoon work, which may prove dangerous for Mumbaiites.”
Rais Shaikh, Samajwadi Party leader, said Byculla is likely to face waterlogging this year, as no work has been done so far. “In Byculla, the desilting work is only on paper and the logsheet. Nothing is being done on ground. The condition of drains remains the same,” he said.
First Published: May 09, 2019 01:51 IST
