There was uproar in the civic standing committee meeting on Monday, with the Opposition criticising the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) monsoon preparedness after heavy rain waterlogged the city on Saturday and resulted in injuries to people in tree falls.
Some demanded compensation for a tree fall victim who suffered spinal injuries.
Leader of Opposition Ravi Raja, tabling a motion of adjournment, said, “Like every year, the ruling party and administration claimed they are prepared for the monsoon. Hundreds of crores have been spent on desilting and road works. They should explain why there was waist-deep water at Hindmata and Sion. Their claims have been washed out.”
The Shiv Sena, in defence, said that every corporator was responsible for ensuring work was carried out properly in their ward.
“We went on the field with the staffers and ensured work was done. The Opposition should have also got work done,” said Sena corporator Rajul Patel.
No support from BJP
Mr. Raja’s motion, however, found no support from the BJP, which claimed that the Congress should have taken up the issue months ago.
“Whenever there were controversial drain or road-related proposals, we flagged them, but the Congress allowed them to be passed. Why create a ruckus now?” said BJP leader Manoj Kotak. The party criticised the administration for shoddy desilting work, but did not vote in favour of adjournment.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee said some places were waterlogged, but not as heavily as last year. He said water receded within half an hour at most flooded spots.
Compensation for victim
Committee business continued and Leader of the House Vishakha Raut demanded compensation for a tree fall victim. Ms. Raut said, “A 20-year-old girl was injured by a falling tree in Dadar. When we visited the hospital, doctors told us they are not sure about her total recovery. This is shocking. Someone’s future could be compromised.”
Ms. Raut was referring to a student, Shreya Raut, who had to undergo spinal surgery after a tree fell on her and some relatives at Shivaji Park on Saturday. She is under observation at Hinduja hospital. A spokesperson for the hospital said she was admitted in a paraplegic state. “We have conducted a surgery on her and she is under the treatment of our medical and surgical team,” the spokesperson said.
The House leader’s demand for compensation was supported by corporators across party lines.
NCP leader Rakhi Jadhav said, “The BMC usually tries to shirk responsibility by saying that the tree was on private premises. But this time, the tree was on a road. The administration has done a shoddy job of trimming branches.” she said.
Standing committee chairman Yashwant Jadhav directed the administration to look into the matter of compensation to the victim.