Mumbai, 24 June (HS): Amid the recent downpour in Mumbai,

which caused heavy waterlogging throughout the city, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA

Aaditya Thackeray called the situation a reminder for the government to focus

on governance rather than dirty politics. Worli MLA attacked the BJP in a post

on 'X', accusing them of draining funds from the Mumbai Municipal Corporation

(BMC). He compared this to measures implemented during the UBT Sena's tenure to

reduce urban flooding. Thackeray emphasized the importance of rainwater holding

tanks for Mumbai, stating that they should be built alongside pumping stations

and stormwater drain diameter expansions in order to transform Mumbai into a

sponge city. He also claimed that the current administration fails to properly

operate Hind Mata's existing pumps and holding tanks to keep the area flood-free.

Aaditya Thackeray emphasized the need for the government to

prioritize governance over dirty politics. In 2018-19, the BMC began working on

rainwater holding tanks to prevent water logging in common areas. This, along

with pumping stations and increasing the diameter of storm water drains, is the

next step for a coastal city like Mumbai. From 2020 to 2022, we showed their

usefulness by creating them at Hind Mata, Gandhi Market, and Milan Subway.

Worse, they no longer run the pumps and storage tanks at Hind Mata adequately

to keep it flood-free, despite the fact that the equipment is in place.

Over the next four years, this bjp regime has drained

the BMC of funds while not building a single rainwater holding tank! he

continued. Thackeray further said that the current administration has failed to

prepare the state's cities for monsoons or ensure self-reliance in the case of

severe rains. It has not even moved on with our desalination project; it is

only now discussing it. It mentions it again. So, technically, the BJP rule has

neither prepared any Maharashtra city for monsoons in the event of heavy rains,

nor has it made our cities self-sufficient in the event of light rainfall.

Thackeray said, Who does the regime work for besides its preferred

builders and contractors?

Heavy rain drenched Mumbai throughout the night, causing

significant waterlogging in numerous low-lying areas, prompting the India

Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue an Orange Alert for the city and surrounding

regions.The advisory, issued early Wednesday morning, warned of moderate to

heavy rain in Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Palghar, and Sindhudurg during a brief

nowcast window, asking people to take appropriate measures.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi