Even as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is going full swing with nullah visits and cleaning of storm water drains, as part of their pre-monsoon preparedness plan, the residents’ associations across the city have given the civic body’s plans a huge thumbs down.

Anadini Thakoor, member of Khar Residents Association (KRA) said, “As the MET department has predicted early rainfall we thought the civic body will also carry out the mandatory nullah cleaning earlier and even though the work has started now; in most places it is done in a haphazard manner.”

In Khar area (H-west) ward, at the main nullahs on the 17th, 18th road and near the Khar library proper cleaning work is yet to be done. “The open nullahs in these areas are overflowing with filth. This is a chronic spot which sees flooding almost every monsoon. We fear this year it will not be very different,” said Thakoor.

In another part of the town, more than a century old Dahisar River passing through the national park, has become another chronic nullah thanks to years of neglect. “This nullah was once a river but owing to massive encroachments on the sides and all the excavation work done nearby it has seen deterioration. This is a vulnerable spot in the suburbs which is yet to be cleaned,” said Willy Shirshat, president, Borivali-Dahisar Jagrut Manch. “If this nullah is not cleaned on time the whole of Dahisar and Borivali might see a deluge like situation this monsoon,” said Shirshat.

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