Mumbai: The Mayor of Mumbai, Vishwanath Mahadeshwar inspected few nullahs of western suburbs on Wednesday to take review of pre-monsoon nullah desilting.
During his visit, the mayor observed that at few places desilting was carried out properly while at few it is yet to be done. However, Mr Mahadeshwar pointed that it was the contractors who carry out desilting work and not the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) officials because of which there should not be an excuse of delay due to election work.
Speaking with The Asian Age, the mayor said, “The BMC has appointed contractors to clean the nullahs. So, the people appointed by the contractor carry the work and not the BMC officials that the work should get delayed. Also, the election is over now and the staff is back to BMC. We have one month in hand and the desilting of nullahs can be completed in time.”
The BMC Storm Water drains (SWD) department has been saying since last month that as maximum of their staff is on Lok Sabha election duties owing to which the desilting of nullahs is behind schedule. The sub-engineers who carry supervision on ground are also on zonal duties, it said.
However, the Collector office said that the BMC employees required for emergency services were released back soon after the voting day.
The BMC started pre-monsoon nullahs desilting from April 1 and May 31 is the deadline to complete the work. However, only 35 to 40 per cent work is done.
