HC came down heavily on BMC for water-logging and pothole problems

Mumbai, July 5 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today came down heavily on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for its alleged failure to improve the drainage system in the metropolis resulting in heavy water-logging in various places of the city during last four days due to continuous rains.

A division bench comprising Justices R M Lodha and A S Bagga, hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by a senior citizen Dr Sandip Rane, also directed the BMC to file a reply till July 26, stating the work done so far for improving the drainage system and submit the blueprints indicating the expenditure and the action taken so far.

It may recalled that on an earlier occasion, while the High Court was a hearing the PIL for Mithi River development, the BMC had stated they had 'improved the drainage line' and this time there is no possibility of failure of drainage system. However, the petitioner pointed out to the court that despite the expenditure incurred running into crores of rupees for improving the drainage line, there drainage system was still functioning badly the city was paralysed for the last few days due to heavy downpour.

The court in its order also held though the civic authorities had claimed it had met all possible efforts to improve the drainage system and road condition, their claims seemed to be unsustainable as the city has seen waterlogging and experienced potholes problem once again.

The court also pulled BMC lawyer K K Singhvi who said Municipal body had made all efforts before monsoons and during heavy rains their staff was available for emergency round-the-clock duty and had cleared various water-logging problems.

The court also said despite BMC's claim, the problem faced by the city was unlike the rains last year on July 27. It indicates that material used for filling potholes was ''sub-standard'' or the 'contractors had not done their work properly'.

The court also asked the BMC to indicate in its reply, mentioning the action that will be taken against the contractor who had done poor work, or if there was any proposal before them to initiate action against such contractors.

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