How Shiv Sena- and BJP-run BMC has ensured Mumbai is never rain-ready
Is Mumbai rain-ready? This question gives nightmare to Mumbaikars every monsoon.
The approaching monsoon of 2018 too is no different. The reason for this is the failure of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) — the civic body — and those who are running it — the Shiv Sena and the BJP.
Both these parties have been allies in the BMC for two decades and to their luck they have been voted back every time. Now the question that can be asked is, if they have failed then why are they getting elected?
A valid question, but the answer to that is that a certain section of the voting population is repeatedly voting for them. Many who are affected by the rains, do raise their voice but for some reason when the time comes to vote and choose a good municipal councillor, these people refrain from voting. The voting percentage on polling days is a proof of the same. If you want good civic amenities and administration then you have to vote and elect the right people.
There are several reasons why Mumbai is never rain-ready. One of the prime reasons is the "nallas" (drains) that carry the rain water into the sea. These "nallas" are full of garbage due to habitation around them and because of this reason their capacity to hold and carry the rain water has diminished. They start overflowing, causing floods in and around its areas.
The BMC, every year, spends a lot of money on the cleaning of these "nallas", but the question again is how much of the money is actually spent because the cleaning is never complete. The contractors who are assigned this work never manage to finish it. These contractors of the civic administrators are rarely punished or blacklisted. Even if they are blacklisted for a particular type of work, they get awarded a contract for some other project. This shows that the administrators and the political parties at the helm of the BMC are hand in glove.
Another reason for flooding during the monsoon is the clogging of the stormwater drains, this happens because the stormwater drains are not maintained and cleaned on time to be made ready to drain the excessive flow of rainwater. This monsoon season may be worse because the mayor of Mumbai who belongs to the Shiv Sena has gone on record to say that there is a clear possibility of Mumbai getting flooded this time around as the Metro rail project has damaged many of the stormwater drains and they have not been repaired.
He also went on to say that if this happens, the blame will be on the state government and not the BMC. This is again a blame-game that both these parties are now famous for. Neither party can shirk responsibility since both are in government together.
After the Mumbai 2017 civic elections were declared, the Shiv Sena emerged as the largest party, and in their dramatic style both these parties, though allies in state and central government, had fought the civic elections separately. The BJP let the Sena take the lead in the BMC and proclaimed to be the "watchdogs" who will keep an eye on the leaders. But what happened is there for all of us to see.
The BMC administration continues to be a failure. The point that the mayor made about stormwater drainage is important here, because what were the "watchdogs" doing when the drains were being damaged. Why did they not raise an alarm when all this was happening? The Sena cannot blame the state government alone because what were they doing while all this was happening.
A BJP spokesperson was heard saying on a television debate that the CM of Maharashtra called a meeting a day or two ago to review the preparedness of the municipal administration for the monsoons. A meeting called for a review just when the pre-monsoon showers have drenched the city? Why was it not convened much earlier? Now, that the meeting is over, what is the outcome? It is very evident from all visuals available in television and print media and various other sources that the "nallas" are not clean, the stormwater drains are broken and many other issues that led to problems for the citizens are not in order.
So, has the CM taken cognisance of the same and suspended the officers concerned for failing in their duties? Were the contractors who did not finish their work on time, blacklisted? Black-listing and suspension is a must, but will that solve the problems that Mumbaikars are about to face? I don’t think so.
The strange and annoying part of this whole issue is that the BMC gives itself a deadline for completion of these works and ends up extending its own deadlines without holding any accountability or responsibility.
All one can do now is pray — pray for ourselves and our fellow citizens that we stay safe this monsoon. I want to end by saying that, “the next time we complain about all the problems that we are facing, we should also ask ourselves why we did not vote, or why did we choose someone who is not capable of delivering their duties, or has failed to do so”. Only then will we be able to stop asking this perennial question, “Is Mumbai rain-ready?”