BMC spends 42-crore to clean drains for rain………..Somita Pal
Sunday MiD DAY asks BMC municipal commissioner Swadhin Kshatriya 6 questions on BMC’s pre-monsoon preparations
Sunday MiD DAY asks BMC municipal commissioner Swadhin Kshatriya 6 questions on BMC’s pre-monsoon preparations
What steps are being taken to ensure that the ongoing metro rail and mono rail work doesn’t inconvenience people?
Mono rail and metro rail work will continue, as was decided after MMRDA chief Ratnakar Gaikwad insisted it won’t cause water logging. These are time-bound projects, and their completion is being eagerly awaited.
On heavy rainfall days, we will place water pumps in areas where the metro and mono rail work is on. We are not giving permission for any other excavation work, unless it’s urgent.
Is BMC prepared for another 26/7 deluge?
The BMC has spent at least Rs 42 crore on cleaning nullahs and storm water drains. It also deployed 198 pumps at various flood-prone spots to discharge water into the sea. The water-holding capacity of the nullahs and rivers has increased and our water discharging capacity has also improved.
This year will be a test for us. Control rooms have been set up in all 24 ward offices and local rescue teams have been created. An emergency cash provision of Rs 1 lakh has been made for each ward.
Three dead and as many injured in separate incidents of wall and house collapse in recent pre-monsoon showers. How is BMC ensuring there are no more mishaps?
It was an unfortunate incident. We have held discussions with the collector and soon an ex-gratia will be released.
We have requested people living in landslide-prone areas and dilapidated buildings to shift elsewhere for a couple of months. As many as 127 such spots have been identified. Residents of the buildings have been told to move out to avoid loss of lives and wealth.
Rs 1.25 crore is being spent to hire contractors to transport fallen trees this monsoon. Why is the cash-strapped BMC spending so much when you already have solid waste management staff?
There is a steep increase in tree falling cases during the monsoon. Hiring a contractor for transporting fallen trees is a yearly practice. This year, we have arranged for machinery that will be on standby at all 24 wards. The ward officers have been asked to cut the branches that can cause damage.
Compared to last year, there has been a 20 to 25 per cent increase in cases of malaria. What is BMC doing to keep malaria under control?
We are screening labourers on the city’s 1,500 construction sites. They are being singled out because construction sites are massive breeding grounds for malarial mosquitoes.
We have also issued notices to builders who failed to keep their sites mosquito-free. The BMC has made it mandatory for builders to fumigate their sites. We will display boards at chemist shops, asking people to watch out for symptoms of malaria. We have trained 28 officials to collect the larvae for testing. The areas where the most anopheles larvae are found will get more attention.
Swine flu cases have resurfaced, with 3 deaths and 17 cases in the last two months. What measures is BMC taking to avoid a rise in swine flu cases?
All our machineries are in place to fight H1N1. We request pregnant women to take care of themselves, and not to take symptoms lightly.