On Wednesday (May 28), while leading a BJP delegation to meet BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, Shelar demanded a white paper outlining how nearly ₹1 lakh crore has been allocated over the last two decades for initiatives such as nullah desilting, Mithi River cleanup, flood control efforts, and the long-delayed BRIMSTOWAD project—resulting in minimal visible improvements to Mumbai’s monsoon readiness.
“Even with ₹1 lakh crore spent, the state of Mumbai has not improved. Who will be accountable for this massive failure?” Shelar inquired, holding Uddhav Thackeray and Aaditya Thackeray responsible. “Before they blame the last three years, they must justify their own record over the past two decades.” According to Shelar, the BMC had a cumulative budget of around ₹80 lakh crore over 20 years, with 40% designated for development. Out of this, ₹1 lakh crore was directed specifically towards stormwater drains, nullahs, the Mithi River, and BRIMSTOWAD. “What have the citizens of Mumbai received in return? Waterlogged streets, unfulfilled promises, and ineffective governance,” he stated.
The BJP delegation, which included several former corporators like Prabhakar Shinde, Vinod Mishra, Ravi Raja, Kamlesh Yadav, and others, convened with Commissioner Gagrani at the BMC headquarters, bypassing usual procedures due to the urgency of the matter. The group raised various pressing concerns—beginning with the incomplete BRIMSTOWAD project. Shelar questioned why, despite being designed to handle 25-50 mm of rainfall, the project is still not fully operational. “Given that Mumbai frequently experiences heavier rains, how can we still be caught off guard?” he asked.
Shelar criticized the Mithi River clean-up, labeling it a “hub of corruption.” He sought clarity on the amount of silt supposedly removed, the disposal locations, and the financial outlay—demanding transparency and accountability. He alleged that some contracts were awarded in the names of deceased individuals and that silt dumping records included properties outside BMC jurisdiction—issues that are reportedly under investigation by the Economic Offences Wing. “Shouldn’t the people of Mumbai be informed about where their money has gone?” Shelar questioned.
The BJP leader also addressed issues impacting citizens each monsoon—such as falling trees, landslides, and waterlogging. He criticized the BMC’s policy of charging private property owners for tree pruning, even when branches dangerously extend over public roads. He noted that of the 82 hazardous locations in Mumbai’s suburbs, 47 are prone to landslides. While MHADA has installed 9-foot nets, higher structures under the PWD remain unsecured due to budget constraints. Shelar urged the BMC to promptly release funds and complete the necessary work to avert disaster.
During the recent rains, pumps failed in numerous flood-prone areas. “Even the Britannia pumping station was on the verge of collapse, leading to flooding in South Mumbai. Why weren’t the pumps operational?” Shelar asked.
He also accused the allocation of contracts for the Coastal Road project of favoritism, alleging that Aaditya Thackeray adjusted tender criteria to benefit close associates, resulting in the use of substandard materials. “The public deserves to know what compromises were made and who gained from them,” he asserted.
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