Desilting: BJP slams BMC for patting itself on the back

Ashish Shelar near what BJP claimed is the Jijamata Nagar Mahul nullah on Monday

The civic body claimed on Tuesday that it had removed 104 per cent more sludge from Mumbai's big drains than its target by May 31. The BMC said it took out 3.24 lakh metric tons of silt from the nullahs against its earlier goal of 3.11 lakh metric tons. The BJP, however, shared pictures of clogged drains to trash the claim.

The BMC produced this ‘file' picture to back its claim

The civic body said its desilting achievement this time was 35 per cent more compared to last year. It said 19,093 trucks were used to transport the silt. In the first week of June, 17,297 metric tonnes of sludge was removed, said a release by the corporation.

Also Read: Mumbai: Locals, civic body spar over desilting again

Disbelieving the nullah cleaning claim, BJP leader Ashish Shelar said he had visited a few drains on Monday and found them filled with garbage. "Locals also complained about the non-removal of trash. The municipal administration and Shiv Sena are throwing dust into the eyes of Mumbaikars to hoodwink them. It cannot be ruled out that Mumbai will not be flooded during monsoon," he said, adding that crores of rupees are being wasted in the name of nullah cleaning.

BJP group leader Prabhakar Shinde asked the civic administration and Shiv Sena to respond in the House. Shinde alleged that Gajdharbandh, PNT nullah, Poisar river, Janakalyan Nagar nullah, Valnai nullah, Somaiya nullah, Jijamata Nagar Mahul nullah are still filled with silt.