To keep Shiv Sena in check, BJP scans desilting works

Mumbai: Pursuing the transparency agenda and aiming to keep the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) ruling Shiv Sena on a tight leash, Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar on Friday visited Juhu’s Gazdarbandh nullah, which is one of the major nullahs in western suburbs. Mr Shelar directed civic officials to inspect private dumping grounds, where silt removed from nullahs is dumped, to prevent irregularities in the desilting works.

“The civic officials should check how much silt the contractors removed, where did they dump it and where are their weighing receipts,” he said. “We insist on transparent administration and hence we are keeping a watch on nullah cleaning works. We also plan to undertake a visit to private dumping grounds, where the silt is deposited,” said Mr Shelar. He also visited nullahs like SNDT, Main Avenue, North Avenue, South Avenue, Green Street at places like Khar and Bandra to take a review of desilting works.

Gazdarbandh has a lagoon in the surrounding areas and is one of the major nullahs, where nullahs from Juhu, Bandra, Santacruz and Khar meet together. If not cleaned properly, rainwater from the nullah enters into the slums at Gazdarbandh causing inconvenience to the residents. Areas like Juhu, Santacruz, Khar and Bandra always face a flood threat and to prevent it, the BMC has decided to construct a pumping station on the Gazdarbandh nullah.  

Irregularities from the BMC surfaced after the flood that occurred in several parts of the city during heavy rainfall on June 19, 2015, raised a question mark over its pre-monsoon preparation works. This led to the suspension of 14 officials after the civic body initiated an inquiry. FIRs were also filed against accused contractors.