Following a pre-monsoon review meeting at the civic headquarters, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday announced a 'Zero Casualty Mission' eyeing to curb casualties and losses during the upcoming monsoon months. Speaking to reporters, Shinde said, "We have decided to work on 'Zero Casualty Mission' wherein all the stakeholders will work as a team to ensure that there are no casualties nor damage to people's property." "As part of this, cleaning of drains should be done properly. While the spots which are prone to waterlogging have been identified, we will be setting up high pressure pumps that will operate 24* 7. Besides this, we will also be setting up holding ponds at nearly 12 - 13 locations, wherein the water from rain will be stored. The BMC has also inspected and activated nearly 27 floodgates," said the Chief Minister. "We will be filling the potholes on the road using mastic to ensure pothole-free streets. At locations where roadworks are underway, we will be taking measures to ensure that water doesn't get accumulated",said Shinde adding that the BMC will also inspect nearly 1 lakh manholes. On the question of road concretisation, he said, "We have started work on road concretisation. The tendering process for the second phase, which comprises the pending work, has been finalised. In the next 2 - 2.5 years, we will be concretising all the roads in Mumbai." Amid the civic body drawing flak from politicians who have expressed dissatisfaction over the ongoing desilting works, Shinde said, "Besides looking at the total metric ton of silt removed, we have issued instructions to remove silt until the hardbase is touched. The desilting work is still going on. The ward officials should ensure all desilting work is completed on time. If officials are found rushing work, action will be taken against them." A day prior, municipal commissioner and state appointed administrator Bhushan Gagrani took stock of the ongoing desilting works while inspecting works at the Vakola river in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), which is a chronic flooding spot in Mumbai. During his visit to the BMC headquarters on Friday, CM Shinde alongside guardian ministers Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Deepak Kesarkar, inspected the disaster management cell and reviewed pre-monsoon measures with senior civic officials as well as officials from police, railways, IMD, NDRF etc who were also present for the meeting.
