Monsoon’s back with a bang in Mumbai. 98 mm rainfall recorded within 12 hours on Sunday. This rainfall, however, wasn’t pleasant for people who were travelling from Kurla and other low lying areas in Mumbai, including me.
Heavy rainfall with inferior quality roads resulted in a big traffic jam. We could cover only 1 km in half an hour. Our car was half immersed in the water. The water was so filthy and it seemed one would be infected merely by stepping onto the water. Year after year, it’s the same story. This incident raised many questions in my mind. Why can’t the water logging be avoided? Who build such roads? what do engineers plan? Why preventive measures are not being taken? If I ask these questions to any person in Mumbai, his answer would be ignorant and irresponsible BMC.
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| water logging at kurla |
BMC, the municipal corporation of Mumbai is responsible for many activities like street-lighting, crematoriums, drainage and sewage system. It is the biggest municipal corporation in India and has bigger budget then some of the Indian states. BMC is mostly in news due to wrong reasons.
Few weeks back, BMC had banned the use of mannequins in shops. The reason it gave was that it influences young minds in the wrong direction. It led to many discussions on TV news channels. BMC, however, stood firm and the decision was not revoked. This topic was of least importance to the public and many a times no one even glances at the mannequins (even bikini clad mannequins).
The main topic of ‘how water logging can be avoided’ was completely diverted. Why are such important topics not being discussed which has direct connection with the common public?
The answer is simple –‘CORRUPTION’.
The municipality consists of corporators who are elected once every five years. The municipality awards the road maintenance contracts to some private companies. It’s the responsibility of corporators to check if the work is being done properly. All the local issues are to be actually sorted by corporators. It is observed many times that the same corporators, who the people have elected, are involved in many wrong-doings to benefit themselves.
What can be the solution to the above mentioned problems? BMC should be made more accountable and there should be direct involvement of people in local activities. The media should also play an important role in highlighting these issues. If people get together, these problems can be defeated.
The article was orginally published here on 11th June 2013.