Opposition slams Shiv Sena for lack of planning to prevent floods

While ruling Shiv Sena expressed satisfaction over the pre-monsoon work, the opposition claims that half of the desilting work is not even complete as the monsoon will soon arrive in the city.

The Congress corporators have alleged that the civic administration has delayed starting work on the important drains works at the chronic waterlogging spots.

Ravi Raja, the Congress corporator and leader of opposition in BMC, said, "The work on increasing the size of drain box to release water easily was started in January this year. If this was started after the monsoon last year, it would have been completed by now," adding that there is a lack of planning by the civic body. Raja had also raised the matter before the standing committee meeting on Friday, claiming that only 40 per cent desilting work has been completed and many nullahs have not even been touched.

"There is no ground level work. They are only providing figures. Visits before the monsoon has become a ritual but the problem remains the same," said Raja.

At present, the BMC has been working on the 800-metre-long drainage system to mitigate waterlogging at Hindmata. The BMC is replacing the underground British-era drains to increase its capacity to release water.