With the help of the Disaster Management Act, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) cleared the way for the city's three main nullahs. These nullahs have had encroachments for over five years. The BMC demolished more than 200 structures in the last four days. It is now removing debris from the sites concerned. Simultaneously, the civic body appointed marshals to prevent littering of nullahs. The anti-encroachment drive becomes a reality after new civic commissioner Praveen Pardeshi sought assistance from the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The Act provides great power to the local authority for the effective management of potential disasters. ENCROACHMENTS QUEUE UP 30 – Irla Nullah – Irla Nullah 34 – Mukhyadhyapak nullah – Mukhyadhyapak nullah 176 – Chamadawadi Nullah FINE COLLECTED FROM PEOPLE WHO LITTER NULLAHS Rs 200 – Fine per person – Fine per person Rs 2.95 L – Total fine collected in a week The civic body started demolishing encroachments at Irla nullah in Vile Parle, Mukhyadhyapak Nullah in Dharavi, and Chamdawadi Nullah in Bandra East. According to the nullah widening plan of the Stormwater Drainage Department, there were 34 structures at Mukhyadhyapak Nullah, 30 at Irla, and 176 structures at Chamdawadi Nullah. The action was initiated on Monday and followed course despite strong opposition from the locals. "The BMC demolished 5 structures and parts of 25 other structures, that were extended into the nullah. Locals strongly opposed the work, but it was still completed within five hours," said Prashant Gaikwad, assistant commissioner of K west ward. It took two days to demolish structures at Mukhyadhyapak Nullah. However, Chamdawadi Nullah with three, four, and five storey structures took seven days of toil; the work was completed on Sunday. "We have completed almost 95 per cent of the demolition work and have cleared Chamdawadi Nullah as per the plan provided by the Stormwater Drainage Department. There were more than 176 structures. Now, transportation of debris is underway and it will take a week's time," said Ashok Khairnar, assistant commissioner of the H east ward. The civic body has started levying fines on locals for littering nullahs. In the last week, the civic body has collected nearly Rs 3 lakh as fine. The BMC has set up 24 patrolling teams in 24 wards of the city with the help of the Mumbai police. It is charging defaulters Rs 200 each for littering nullahs. The civic body has also installed grills over small nullahs to prevent piling up of garbage. DARE NOT LITTER

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