BMC to spend Rs 152 crore to desilt nullahs in Mumbai

The nullah-cleaning work will start this month, said civic officials

The civic body plans to spend Rs 152 crore to desilt storm water drains across the city this year after its standing committee cleared a proposal to improve the nullah network.

About 75 per cent of the work is expected to be completed before the monsoon, while 15 per cent will be taken up during the rains and the remaining in later months, said officials. The work to clear the drains will begin this monsoon.

Data shared by the BMC's storm water drain department shows that it plans to desilt 32 km of nullahs in the island city at an estimated cost of Rs 12.19 crore.

Cleaning of about 100 km of major drains in the eastern suburbs is expected to cost the corporation nearly Rs 21 crore, while it will spend about Rs 30 crore to improve flow in drains running up to 140 km in the western suburbs.

The standing committee has also allowed the BMC to issue a work order for cleaning the Mithi river and it will cost nearly Rs 90 crore. The work is expected to clear 80 per cent of the sediment before the monsoon, said officials from the storm water department.