Mumbai rains: 'Absolute lack of planning' for monsoon by BMC, says Aaditya Thackeray

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray. File Pic

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Wednesday alleged that there was "absolute lack of planning" for monsoon by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) as he cited water-logging at Worli Seaface.

"Have been receiving updates about water logging at Worli Seaface. This is unusual, and mostly likely due to the ongoing works of the Coastal Road. Absolute lack of planning for monsoons this year by @mybmc is evident. Calling out to BMC and G South ward to intervene," Aaditya Thackeray tweeted.

Worli is the assembly constituency of Aaditya Thackeray.

Repyling to Aaditya Thackeray's tweet, BMC said: "We acknowledge your concerns about Worli Seaface. Our team has promptly investigated, and we confirm no water logging issues. Rest assured, we take monsoon planning seriously, and we're working to ensure a smoother experience. Safety remains our top priority!"

The BMC is being run by the state government-appointed administrator.

Heavy rains lashed Mumbai, its suburbs and adjoining areas on Wednesday, which disrupted the suburban rail traffic and caused water-logging in low-lying areas.

Heavy rains lashed parts of Mumbai amid an orange alert on Wednesday, leading to disruption of local train services beyond Kalyan in the adjoining Thane district, diversion of some express trains and cancellation of a few services between Mumbai and Pune.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde claimed though Mumbai has 110 low-lying areas there was no waterlogging in the city and traffic remained smooth.

Shinde declared a holiday for all schools in Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, and Palghar districts for Thursday amid a heavy rainfall warning in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

The chief minister visited the disaster management cell in Mantralaya to review the flood situation in the state and directed officials to be on alert mode.

He was apprised of floods due to heavy rains in some areas in Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhdurg, Pune, Satara and Gadchiroli districts.

Shinde also visited the disaster control room of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation along with some ministers in the evening and took stock of the situation.

CM Eknath Shinde said he spoke with all divisional commissioners and collectors and instructed them to send help to Raigad, battered by heavy rains since Tuesday night, from Panvel and Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporations.

The CM credited the installation of 450 pumps by BMC in 450 areas and the drain cleaning work for the non-accumulation of water on a rainy day in Mumbai.

Amid an orange alert, predicting heavy to very heavy showers at some places, Mumbai received moderate to heavy rainfall till Wednesday evening.

(With inputs from PTI)