In offing: More dustbins along nullahs to prevent littering

Chief engineer of storm water drains (SWD), Laxman Vhatkar said,“We have planned to increase the dustbins along these nullahs. We have found that despite nullah cleaning work every monsoon,there is huge amount of plastic waste and clothes which clog these nullahs leading to water logging”.

While nullah cleaning work had begun towards the end of April last year,this time the civic administration is preparing for the monsoon well in advance. The nullah cleaning work has already been started from April 2 and is likely to be completed by June first week.

“Unlike last year,this time the nullah cleaning drive has begun early so that proper assessment of the work can be done,” said Vhatkar.

The civic body will complete 70 per cent of the nullah cleaning before monsoon,said officials. The rest 20 per cent work will be done during monsoon and the remaining 10 per cent after the monsoon.

The city,which has 38 major nullahs measuring up to 319 km,are maintained by the SWD department. The minor 119 nullahs across the city measuring a total of about 160 km and the road side nullahs which are about 2,000 km are maintained by seperate ward offices.

The BMC has allocated a Rs 75 crore budget for this year’s pre-monsoon work of cleaning drains in the city. This is part of the two-year contract worth Rs 152 crore which was given last year.

The officials said stringent measures will be taken to ensure contractors finish the work on time. Unlike last year,when corporators and senior party leaders had attended the nullah cleaning drives,this time their involvement is missing.

“Politicians such as Uddhav Thackeray,Sanjay Nirupam had accompanied civic officials on nullah cleaning drives last year to spread awareness amongst citizens,but this time there is no such attempt,” said a senior civic official.