Pre-monsoon drain cleaning on even after rain hits city

NAVI MUMBAI: The first shower of the season hit the city on Saturday but the civic body is yet to finish cleaning the drainage and sewerage lines despite a May 30 deadline set up by the municipal commissioner.
Civic workers were seen cleaning the nullahs near Rabale pond and in sector 4, Koparkhairane even on Monday.
The civic storm water drains (SWD) department seems to be struggling to clean up the nullahs, said sources.
But mayor Sudhakar Sonawane, claimed that he was satisfied with the quality of the work undertaken at a press conference on Monday.
“The tender process was slightly behind schedule, which led to a delay in starting the cleaning work but we are satisfied with the quality of the pre-monsoon cleaning work being undertaken,” he said.
A Koparkhairane resident said that the civic body has just started cleaning the drainage and sewage lines and it will be some time before they remove the debris and waste as they pick it up only after it dries.
“They say that they will remove the waste only after it dries but if it rains heavily, the waste will either flood the streets and dirty them or flow back in the channels,” he added.
But Tushar Pawar, head of solid waste management, NMMC, said that residents can contact NMMC if they are not satisfied with the work being done.
“Citizens can send Whats App pictures or videos to NMMC on 9769894944 if the contractors have not cleaned the nullahs in their areas,” he said.
He added that they can also complain if the quality of work is not up to the mark. “Currently, the department is taking action on complaints it has received on WhatsApp,” he said.