BMC prepares for monsoon, spends 150 crores on nullah repairing

Despite spending more than Rs 500 crores every year for pre monsoon preparations, the city last year lost 11 people and 71 were reported injured due to waterlogging, building or structural collapse, falling of trees or branches and electrocution. The money was spent on nullah repairing and cleaning, road resurfacing, tree trimming, manhole covers, dewatering pumps, pumping stations etc. The disaster management cell received more than 1104 calls related to heavy rainfall in 2018.

This year Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has more than Rs 150 crores on nullah cleaning alone. 15 per cent of the cleaning is said to be completed. Unhappy with the functioning, Ravi Raja, opposition leader, has blamed the civic body for its negligence. "Despite spending hundreds of crores last year, many parts of the city were waterlogged. This year despite the projects being sanctioned, road repairing work has not started due to administrative negligence," he said.

BMC authorities will discuss precautionary measures in a meeting scheduled next week.