Mumbai: Noticing silt removed from minor and major drains dumped roadside, civic authorities have directed contractors to dispose of it at designated sites within 48 hours. Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani also ordered the use of 'trash booms' to ensure uninterrupted drain flow during the monsoon.
Gagrani inspected Worli Racecourse drain, Nehru Science Centre drain, and Dadar-Dharavi drain in the island city on Thursday. He reviewed the ongoing desilting operations and instructed concerned officials. Chief Engineer (Storm Water Drains) Shridhar Chaudhary, along with other concerned officials, was present during the visit.
Gagrani stated, "Mumbai's drainage system relies on its network of constructed drains, requiring annual pre-monsoon desilting. This year, the BMC has allocated Rs. 235 crore for the task, with 30% of the work already completed. With six weeks remaining before the monsoon, the work is on schedule and will be expedited to ensure timely completion."
He further added that the desilting process now incorporates Artificial Intelligence (AI) to analyse footage of silt removal, weighing, transport, and disposal, ensuring better monitoring and transparency.
He urged residents not to dispose of solid waste, particularly plastic bags, bottles, and thermocol, into drains. "Such waste can obstruct the flow of sewage. Residents living near drains should dispose of plastic and floating waste in designated bins for their health and to prevent waterlogging during the monsoon," he added.
The BMC has set up waste collection systems in densely populated and residential areas allowing citizens to dispose of waste properly instead of in drains. Citizens can view photos and videos of the work in their area at https://swd.mcgm.gov.in/wms2025
