CM's ready to crack the whip

Deshmukh tells officials to end pre-monsoon work by May 31 deadline.

MUMBAI: Vilasrao Deshmukh means business. The chief minister has warned that if the BMC and the MMRDA miss the May 31 deadline to complete the pre-monsoon preparedness works, senior officials will face action.

"They will be punished," Deshmukh said. "No one will be spared, howsoever senior or important."

To ensure that Mumbaikars' lives are not affected by the non-performance of erring officials, the chief minister has taken a "sane decision". He has instructed all the agencies concerned to complete their work before the deadline or stop work after bringing it to a convenient safety level. This means those incomplete works should not affect commuters or cause flooding during the monsoon.

The CM has also ensured better overall readiness so that Mumbaikars do not relive the nightmare of July 26.

To take stock of the administration's readiness, Deshmukh has convened a meeting of all agencies concerned, including central government ones. This meeting will decide which works are to be completed by putting in a little extra effort and which are to be taken to the convenient safety level.

He also told DNA that he would personally supervise the preparedness works, particularly the de-silting and widening of the Mithi.