The SWD mentioned in its report that the majority of complaints received are regarding floating materials and garbage in the nullahs. The SWM department was asked to deploy ward wise agencies to address such complaints. But officials of the SWM which comes under another additional commissioner, refused to intervene. “We are accountable for collecting garbage from residential, commercial premises and to sweep the roads. Nullahs do not come under our department. Besides, the contract of nullah desilting included removal of silt as well as flowing material, and the SWD is responsible to maintain the flow of water. We don’t have any agency expertise in cleaning water bodies and have communicated this to the SWD,” said an official from the SWM.

The BMC removed 11.52 lakh tonnes silt from nullahs and rivers across the city which is 17 per cent more than the targeted quantity. The BMC used to remove around 9.80 lakh tonnes garbage/waste/silt from the city’s nullahs and rivers before every monsoon till May 31. This year, the process of cleaning started early and the target was achieved a week before.

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However, the CM has asked BMC to clean the nullahs upto the bottom, but the civic body hasn’t taken a call on it. “The actual silt in the nullahs may be threefold more than the targetted quantity. But no one has an exact idea and the decision of extending current contracts or appointment of new contractors will be taken at the senior level,” said an official from the SWD. Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam has alleged that several nullahs have still not been cleaned. After visiting nullahs on Saturday he wrote a letter to the CM saying the drains have not been completely cleaned in Mumbai. He claimed there is a big scam in drain cleaning in Mumbai.

11.52L
Silt in tonnes removed from city’s nullahs and rivers