Rs 100 cr has been set aside for desilting activity, which has kicked off way before usual this time
To avoid a repeat of last year when the civic body was flailing to finish unclogging sewers before the onset of monsoon, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) this year has started desilting before schedule.
Cleaning up of nullahs is the main pre-monsoon preparation the corporation does, to allow rainwater to drain without blockage and prevent flooding of streets.
During last year's monsoon, Mumbai had witnessed a deluge on August 29, and BMC was flooded with criticism for its poor preparatrions for the heavy rains the city annually witnesses.
This year, the civic storm water drains (SWD) department started desilting on April 1 and is supposed to finish the work by May 31.
The BMC has appointed 48 contractors to desilt all big and small drains in eastern and western suburbs as well as the island city. And nearly Rs 100 crore have been set aside for the work, a senior officer told DNA.
The BMC has a total of 272 kilometre of major drains (including those along the four rivers) in the city to clean before monsoon.
There is another 355 kilometre of minor nullas and 1,780 kilometere of roadside drains to be cleaned.
V Khandkar, chief engineer of SWD department, said, "We have started desilting nullas well in advance this year. Unlike last year, we have appointed all contractors for desilting and transporting the dirt from drains".
"We have also paid the Central and Western railways to clean the drains on railway land," he said, adding that they have also begun work.
Division Railway Manager Mukul Jain (Western Railway) said, "We are concentrating on vulnerable locations and using cameras in culverts to ensure desilting is done well. We have done 40 to 50 per cent of the work. We are holding meetings every 10 days with BMC", he said.
Last year, BMC had to take NGOs' help to clean nullahs.
FLOWING WITH TIME
- BMC has 272 km of major and 355 km of minor nullas to clean.
- 48 contractors have been appointed to carry out the Rs 100-cr work
- BMC paid over Rs 3 cr to CR, WR to clean drains on rly premises, including flood-prone sites in Sion, Kurla, Mulund, Borivali.
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