Bombay Sinks once again

This time around 400 mm of rain was enough to bring the city to a complete standstill. Last time around in 2005 it took 987 mm of rain, a record established after more than 100 years, to stop this city which is being touted as the Financial Capital of the Country.

This time around, Chief Minister and Chief of Disaster Management were both touring the United States in an effort of bringing investment to the beleaguered state of Maharashtra and answering some embarrassing questions on the traffic situation in Bombay (rechristened Mumbai by the ShivSena). Also I am sure they are not revealing that the state is in deep red as far as financial condition is concerned with a record deficit of 130000 Crores (US 33.5 Billion Dollars). They also must have failed to inform that most of this money has been spent on state sponsored irrigation projects which have failed to deliver and are far from being complete.

And now a political blame game circus has started amongst Shiv Sena that controls the local government which directly administers Bombay and Congress / NCP combine that uses the city as capital of Maharashtra State.

All we want is dry roads, freedom from water logging, clean drinking water, uninterrupted power supply and train services that run on time.

Dear Shiv Sena, Congress, NCP, Samajwadi Party, etc., if anyone happens to read this, please stop filling your pockets at the cost of people of this city.

Actions that we can take to stop this trend are

• Stop using plastic carry bags, switch to cloth or jute bags that are reusable. This action alone will prevent clogging of drains in the event of a deluge. Actively canvass for this switch amongst your friends and relatives.
  
• Report any incident of encroachment of public land, cutting of mangroves and indiscriminate reclamation of land.
• Promote rain harvesting.
• Purchase only dwelling units that are having a valid occupation certificate. This ensures that the builder has made the necessary payment for additional infrastructure to the municipal corporation. It also ensures that the building has followed all development control rules required for a proper planned city.
• Plant trees, prevent cutting of trees.
• Actively protest against companies that cut trees to put up advertisements by not using their products in the locality where such hoardings exist

And many more ways to correct this urban nightmare.