MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court told the state administration categorically that no water-logging should happen anywhere across the state in the next monsoon. Regarding the city, the division bench of Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice Ranjana Desai categorically told the counsel for Municipal Corporation "From next year there will be no water logging in Mumbai."
Court also asked the state government and municipal corporations to prepare a plan to tackle water logging and put the plan into action so that by the next year the result showed. The directive came on a PIL filed by Thane-based Gopal Educational and Welfare Sanstha, which demanded that compensation declared by the Centre as well as state for the victims of July 26, 2005 flooding be distributed speedily, and a disaster management plan be prepared for the Thane district.
However, the judges widened the PIL's ambit, saying that water logging and flooding was a larger issue. "Life in Mumbai, Maharashtra is put to standstill due to water logging leading to loss of life and property ... Time has come when the authorities and all wings of the state show their seriousness and take timely and effective steps," the court said.
The court directed that a plan be prepared in this regard, adjourning the matter for two weeks. However, Maharasthra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said that a permanent solution to Mumbai's woes, especially during monsoons, is not feasible in near future.
The solution to Mumbai's problems is not possible within the next one or two years because the problem is over 50 years old, Deshmukh, who returned here after a 10-day US tour, told reporters at the state secretariat here said.
Admitting that illegal encroachments and slums were one of the factors that contributed to flooding in the metropolis, he said action against unauthorized structures would be possible only after the government, which has pledged to protect pre-2000 hutments, makes available alternative accommodation to the dwellers.
About the poor quality of roads in the financial capital, the CM the contracts who carried out the work should be blacklisted. He mooted the idea of putting up boards with names of contractors who carried out the work so that people come to know who is responsible for the job.
"We will carry out survey of the potholes and seek a report within a month." "Anyway, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (controlled by Shiv Sena-BJP combine) is the authority which can answer queries on poor quality of roads," he said. BMC and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) have been working to minimise woes of Mumbai residents during monsoons, he said.
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