Premium
This is an archive article published on July 6, 2006

145;Under control146;

Even though incessant rain for the fifth consecutive day affected life in Mumbai, Maharasthra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, in Delhi for the Congress chief ministers8217; meet, said the 8216;8216;situation is under control8217;8217;.

.

Even though incessant rain for the fifth consecutive day affected life in Mumbai, Maharasthra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, in Delhi for the Congress chief ministers8217; meet, said the 8216;8216;situation is under control8217;8217;.

He also declined the Home Ministry8217;s offer of assistance saying, 8216;8216;it is not needed now8217;8217;. Last year the Centre had called the monsoon floods in Mumbai a 8220;disaster8221; situation. This time, things are different, the CM insisted.

According to Deshmukh, the situation was 8216;8216;natural8217;8217; as Mumbai receives 250 mm rain every year. The waterlogging, he claimed, takes a few hours to drain but the drainage problem is aggravated due to high tide.

8216;8216;We have all learnt our lessons the hard way. Not only us, but the BMC Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the police force and the fire-brigade have been working round the clock. They8217;ve been provided with the train and plane arrival schedules to handle the situation better. The traffic has been moving smoothly thanks to the elaborate diversion plan drawn up by the city police,8217;8217; he added.

He said this year the disaster management plan, drawn up after last year8217;s floods, has been put to good use. There have been no major powercuts apart from in some areas where it was disconnected to avoid short-circuit, he added. The trouble was checked as people were alerted through SMSs, FM radios and TV channels, he said.

Next week, the Centre may release funds for the Mithi River Project which is expected to give waterlogged Mumbai some relief by next monsoon.

 

Latest Comment
Post Comment
Read Comments
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement