Mayor: Fix digital info boards at every nullah being desilted

Mumbai: Mayor Ritu Tawde has directed the civic administration to install digital boards at each nullah site where desilting is being carried out that display information on its length and width, the quantum of silt removed, the duration of the work, the contractor's name and the contact number of the engineer concerned.At a meeting to review nullah desilting work, she asked officials to ensure all dredged silt is moved out of the site within 48 hours. She sought that photos and videos be taken of all stages of the work —from desilting to disposal —to ensure transparency. While instructing officials to make sure that the quantifying of silt be done properly and a vehicle tracking system be installed on vehicles transporting silt, the mayor said such vehicles should also have tarpaulin covering. Desilting of major drains as well as minor ones in civic areas should be completed before the monsoon, she said, adding that public representatives and corporators need to be informed about every stage of work. Tawde said precautions should be taken to ensure that citizens residing along rivers or drains are not endangered during the monsoon and protective walls be constructed wherever necessary. If civic officials encounter difficulties at any stage, they should inform the corporators and get the problems resolved, she said, adding that floating garbage needs to be removed from time to time. She also pushed for keeping internal drains clean too. She directed officials to ensure all pre-monsoon drain cleaning is completed by May 31.BJP group leader in BMC Ganesh Khankar said 80% of desilting work is undertaken before the monsoon, 10% during rains, and the remaining thereafter. He said the elected body will keep a close watch on the desilting process. Khankar said the civic administration should depute one official to take care of all monsoon-related issues and that there should be no shifting of blame between departments.