Congress Demands BMC Audit of Mumbai Landslide Areas After Ghatkopar Incident
Ashraf Azmi, the Congress leader in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), has urged municipal commissioner Ashwini Bhide to order an immediate safety and technical audit of Mumbai’s hilly, sloping, and landslide-prone areas. The demand was submitted in a letter to Bhide following a landslide at Gausia Chawl in Chirag Nagar, Ghatkopar, on Wednesday.
In his letter, Azmi highlighted that Mumbai has several settlements situated on hill slopes. He called for an independent assessment of these settlements by a committee comprising experts, including engineers and geologists, to determine whether construction and other development activities are compromising terrain stability and public safety.
Azmi underlined that landslides should not be treated merely as an inevitable consequence of heavy rainfall. He stated that potential risks need to be identified early and preventive measures must be taken to protect residents.
The Congress party has also demanded a comprehensive review of development and other work undertaken over the last few years in landslide-prone areas, specifically mentioning Chirag Nagar. The requested review includes examining past complaints submitted by residents and elected representatives, along with an audit of whether any action was taken on those complaints.
To protect vulnerable populations, the letter suggested that the BMC compile a settlement-wise list of families living in extremely hazardous locations. This list would allow families to be temporarily evacuated if needed and help plan long-term rehabilitation measures.
Azmi further proposed launching a special campaign titled 'Mumbai Hilly and Landslide-Prone Areas Safety Audit'. Under this proposed campaign, vulnerable locations would be assigned a risk level, and a report would specify necessary remedial measures, name the department responsible for implementing them, and set a deadline for completion. He added that the findings should be made public.
In his letter, Azmi also referenced the Maharashtra government’s Hill Station Policy of 1996, which provides a regulatory framework for developing hill stations, tourist resorts, holiday homes, and townships in hilly areas.
