Nullahs dirty? Alert BMC via app

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is likely to launch a feature on its MCGM 24X7 mobile application where citizens can not only view pictures of nullah-cleaning activities in their areas but also instantly upload pictures of their own if the cleaning work has not been properly carried out.

MCGM stands for the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai.

Their complaints will be diverted to ward engineers concerned from the stormwater drains (SWD) department, who have been directed to clean nullahs at the earliest to prevent waterlogging.

BMC chief Praveen Pardeshi, who recently took charge, came up with the concept of citizens being clued into the BMC’s nullah-desilting activities. He has instructed the SWD to upload the before-and-after photos of nullas cleaning by June 14.

The BMC wants citizens to be its eyes and participate with the civic body to prevent flooding. “It is difficult for us to look at each and every stretch of nullahs, an official said. There are 27 SWD systems in total across the city (major and minor nullahs) and the photos will be uploaded of various stretches in a ward-wise manner.

“The app will show 24 wards and citizens have to click on their ward and check if the nullahs there are cleaned. If they find that despite cleaning, garbage is saturated, they can upload the current picture with the GPS location. The complaint will be diverted to ward concerned. The last exhibition of the app is going on and we will most probably launch during office hours on Monday,” said BMC Information Technology department head Arun Joglekar.