Choked drains Railways’ fault, says BMC chief

MUMBAI, May 30: Municipal Commissioner Girish Gokhale today blamed the railways for not cleaning drains situated on railway land, causing p...

MUMBAI, May 30: Municipal Commissioner Girish Gokhale today blamed the railways for not cleaning drains situated on railway land, causing problems during the monsoon.

Addressing a press conference on the monsoon cleanliness drive, Gokhale informed that so far Rs 11.30 crore had been spent. This is in addition to the Rs 12 lakh and Rs 1.17 lakh given to the Central Railway and Western Railway respectively for cleaning the drains located on their land, mostly along the tracks. He said the railways have been asked to step up their drain-cleaning drive adding that they were slow in their job.

He informed that many a times, only a part of a drain falls in the railway property and if this is not cleaned properly and in time, the efforts of the corporation on the remaining part of the drains is wasted. He said he would find out if the BMC would be allowed to clean those drains.

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He informed that desilting of 55 per cent of major drains and 70 per cent of minor drains had been completed adding that remaining work would be completed by June 10. He warned any organisation which carried out excavation work after a stop order adding that this would invite action under the MRTP Act including imprisonment.

Elaborating on the precautionary measures taken by the corporation, Gokhale said that labour gangs comprising of 40 to 50 workers have been formed in every ward in case of problems due to incessant rain. Each gang will be given a jeep and a truck. He said that a new method of garbage disposal has been adopted. “Under this , collecting points will be selected and the ward officer will have to submit a report to the commissioner every evening,” he explained.