Title - BMC to agencies: Finish monsoon preparedness works by May 30

Taking a tough stand against agencies delaying the monsoon preparedness activities, the civic body on Thursday directed them to wind up all monsoon related activities by May 30. Mayor Sunil Prabhu has written a letter to all agencies, asking them to complete all remaining work on a priority basis.

At a multi-agency monsoon preparedness review meeting on Thursday — attended by officials from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority, Slum Rehabilitation Authority, Airports Authority of India, Public Works Department, Mumbai Port Trust, Western and Central Railway — the civic body took a status review of monsoon preparedness activities of each of the agency. Prabhu said of all the agencies, the works of Railways and MMRDA were lagging behind the most. He said the work done by BPT and AAI had been satisfactory.

“The stretch along the Mithi, which is being widened by the MMDRA, is still full of silt. Only 21 per cent of work has been done so far. We urge the MMRDA to finish all work by May 30,” said Prabhu.

Chronic waterlogging spots in areas of Kurla, Sion, King’s Circle and Govandi were discussed at the meeting. Prabhu said some authorities had cited lack of enough desilting machinery for the delay in works. “We have asked BMC officials to provide them with suction pumps and other machinery to carry out desilting effectively.”

The Public Works Department has been asked to remove debris along the Eastern and Western Express highways on time while nullahs flowing through private land have to be desilted by the plot owners.