Mumbai: Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde on Monday directed all civic and emergency response agencies to work in coordination with the goal of achieving “zero casualties” during the monsoon, while reviewing Mumbai’s pre-monsoon preparedness. He was addressing the authorities in a meeting on Monday afternoon via video-conferencing.Shinde said the delayed onset of the rains has given authorities additional time to strengthen disaster management measures and plan for drinking water supply. He asked agencies to expedite pending drain desilting works, ensure underground holding ponds and flood gates are operational, install protective netting in landslide-prone areas, and carry out structural audits of hoardings.He also directed the BMC to develop its own disaster response teams on the lines of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).The review meeting, was attended by senior officials from the civic body, Mumbai Police, Central and Western Railways, India Meteorological Department, Indian Navy, Coast Guard, NDRF, MMRDA, MHADA and BEST. An official present at the meeting said that IMD was asked about the monsoon forecast for the month of June so informed that chances of any heavy activity in the month of June is unlikely.Shinde also asked BEST and the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation to prepare contingency transport plans in case of flooding.The deputy chief minister stressed the need for preventive measures to avoid tree-fall incidents, improve drainage in slum pockets to curb water-borne diseases, maintain adequate medicine stocks at Aapla Dawakhana clinics and ensure Metro stations remain free from waterlogging.According to the BMC, Mumbai has 125 rain gauges and will witness 24 days of high tides above 4.5 metres between June and September. The civic body has installed multiple dewatering pumps and 65 mini pumping stations across vulnerable locations. A smart pump management system has also been introduced this year to monitor pumping stations from the central control room.The BMC further informed that 1,000 trained Apda Mitra volunteers, three NDRF teams and nine Navy teams have been deployed as part of the city’s monsoon preparedness plan.
