Mumbai: The Mumbai Municipal Corporation has given a contract of about Rs 150 crore for the cleaning work before the monsoon. In different parts of Mumbai, cleaning of small and big drains, rain drains clogged with garbage is about to start. Last year, BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal had claimed 110 percent cleanliness of drains in Mumbai, even after that even BMC commissioner’s claims started floating in Mumbai with water logging during the rainy season.
At the same time, the opposition leaders had blamed the BMC for the hollow claim of cleaning the drain, while the anger of Mumbaikars also had to be faced. This time BMC is going to start drain cleaning from March itself. So that the drains can be cleaned till the monsoon arrives.
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Crores of rupees are wasted every year on cleaning
Every year during the monsoons water logging incidents occur in Mumbai. Rain drains built in Mumbai that carry rainwater into the sea get clogged with silt and garbage. Due to blockage of drains, rain water does not drain out. Especially during the rainy season, due to the high tide in the sea, sea water starts entering the city through the drains. Due to this rain water gets accumulated in the city. There are 300 such spots in Mumbai which are known for water logging. BMC spends crores of rupees every year on cleaning the drains. As soon as crores of rupees are lost in cleaning, even after that there is a flood-like situation in Mumbai.
Emphasis on cleaning Mithi river
During the rainy season, the biggest danger is due to overflow of Mithi river. Cleaning of Mithi river is going on for years. Now Rs 17000 crore has been spent, but the river could not be cleaned. The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has ordered the BMC to submit a phased action plan for cleaning the Mithi river. The BMC has submitted the action plan to the MPCB. For not following this action plan, fine will be collected from BMC every month. Therefore, it will be the endeavor of BMC to complete the cleaning within the stipulated time. MPCB has asked for immediate stop the dumping of filth into the sea at the mouth of big drains.
Cleaning of drains will be done in three phases
This year the Municipal Corporation will clean the drains in three phases. In the first phase, 75% of the sludge deposited in the drains will be cleared by 31 May 2022 before the monsoon. The second phase is in the monsoon season and this work will start from June 1 and will end on September 30 in which 15 percent cleaning will be done. The third phase will start from October 1 and will run till December 31, 2022 in which the remaining 10% will be cleaned.
Such will be the expenditure on cleaning the drains
- About 20 crore rupees will be spent in the cleaning to be done in Dadar, Elphinstone, Parel, Matunga
- Rs 2 crore 71 lakh will be spent in Colaba, Sandhurst Road, Marine Lines, Grant Road, Byculla
- Rs 17 crore 79 lakh will be spent in Chembur East and West regions
- 9 crore 46 lakh rupees will be spent in Mulund area
- A budget of Rs 86 crore has been released on cleaning of drains in the western suburbs of Khar, Bandra, Andheri East-West, Goregaon, Malad, Kandivali, Dahisar belt.