Is Mumbai's Drain Desilting Work in Chaos?

Mumbai, May 8 (NationPress) - The Guardian Minister for Mumbai Suburban, Ashish Shelar, has voiced significant concerns regarding the sluggish pace and unreliable execution of the city's drain desilting efforts as the monsoon season approaches.

After a comprehensive inspection of major drains in the western suburbs, he noted that in the last 35 days, only around 10 percent of the cleaning work has been completed in certain areas, while progress in others fluctuates between 20–30 percent.

“The overall situation is deeply unsatisfactory,” he stated during a media briefing, expressing his dissatisfaction with the slow advancements.

On Thursday, Shelar conducted an extensive inspection of the drain desilting operations across Mumbai's western suburbs, starting from Gazdar Bandh in Santacruz West.

The inspection spanned several critical sites, including the SNDT nullah, Irla nullah, Mogra nullah, and the nullah in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar. Local BJP leaders, former corporators, and officials accompanied the minister to assess the situation on the ground.

While inspecting the Millennium Nullah, officials claimed that video documentation of the desilting process was underway. However, they could not provide any evidence showcasing the removal of silt, the filled dumpers, or the unloading process, raising significant doubts about the authenticity of their claims.

Moreover, officials from the Storm Water Drain Department failed to adequately explain how technology was being applied in the operations.

The mobile app they mentioned was either non-functional or outdated, exacerbating concerns and reinforcing the prevailing notion that the ongoing work is unreliable and lacks transparency, according to a release from Shelar's office.

Shelar expressed his worry, stating: “At Gazdar Bandh, we found that in over 35 days, less than 10 percent of the work has been completed — this is deeply troubling. We will closely monitor the administration's efforts to finish the remaining work within just one month. Although some areas report 20-30 percent progress and others claim 50 percent, it is evident that the overall work is unreliable and lacks credibility.”

He further added: “Simple criticism won’t suffice. We will demand that the Commissioner personally visit the sites and conduct inspections. All necessary measures must be established to ensure this work is completed on time, preventing unnecessary hardships for Mumbaikars during the monsoon. Contractors must be held accountable, with no shielding. Serious questions remain unanswered – how are the nullahs’ length, width, height, and depth measured during desilting? Where and how is this measurement conducted? What standards are being followed? Additionally, if modern technology and AI are in use, what types of machinery and technology are being deployed?”

“Given that contractors have failed to provide this essential information, we will escalate these serious concerns to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner.”