I think its high time we stop blaming the rains and stop blaming the government also.We are proud of being 'Mumbaikars' and gloat about the high spirited Mumbai but as citizens of Mumbai we also dont complete our duties. The government has shirked its responsibilities but arent the citizens also equally responsible in the corruption. Shopkeepers want to keep extending their shops on the road,slum dwellers even when provided with place to live sell them and again go back to the roads,and each and every citizen of Mumbai does not bother about littering the city(whether it is a man on the road or someone sitting ina posh car).The drainage system of the city may not be the best but I am sure that these factors have led to it being absolutely ineffective. If shops,slums,litter everything will be on the road and in the drains where will the water clog? I think it is time for people to wake up to do their duties and then stand up and demand from the government.And at the same time after this incident probably people frm the government services who have not fulfilled their responsibilities for a few hundred rupees,wil not be able to sleep in peace after the seeing the loss of life.
The recent calamity of terrible tuesday is a wake up call for all indians.
We are collectively responsible for electing persons whose only concern is to line their pockets at the expense of the common man. This results in a totally corrupt regime, devoid of all concern for the less previleged. In a less corrupt society, there would have been enforcement in the first place which would have prevented people from living on unauthorized land on hillslopes and river banks. Politician criminal nexus has created this situation where half of Mumbai's population lives in unsafe and unhygenic conditions.
Had we chosen our representatives carefully, making sure that only genuine social workers who have record of selfless service are elected, we would by now have been a developed country.
Here one should observe milching the cow by both the ruling and the oposition and making the poor citizen the scape goat. The BMC, supposed to be the main back bone of the City is controlled by the Oppn.party, who will not sincerely wish to overcome the trubles immedtely. Even at the blood and flesh of the poor they expect to reap rich harvestin the next election. Similarly the ruling elite wanted to show their accusing finger towards inaction of the BMC at this crucial juncture and beg for vote to save in the next flood.
The best way out is claim it to be a natural calamity & wipe off our hands. The question here is, is this city going to support any more people & slums. Its more like the the city strangled all this days & now finally it is reacting to make us think if it can accomodate any more people. The policy of "Aao Jaao Ghar Tumhara" needs to be reviewed.
Though this is a financial capital yet it has its own limitations, & now is the time to think seriously about the same rather than balming Rain or BMC or the State Government about the same. We are now to formulate a fullproof plan to see to it that the same does not happen again.
The death toll announced Officially or Unofficially is not the issue now though its very unfortunate that the same did happen but what has happened has happened we cant get them back by blaming each other. Now lets see if the same is not repeated again.
We cannot compromise on this issue finally if we wish see our families reach back home safely (every monsoon)we are to forget about our vote banks & barring any caste or creed and work out some thing more amicable solution soon.
I live in Pune and I'm also facing the rains everyday. Maybe not as much as people in Mumbai. Over the week I've seen police standing at all major spots in the city, braving the torrential rain throughout the day organizing the traffic, helping stranded people/vehicles. The police/PWD/Municipal agencies are cleaning the roads, societies, helping people to safety, making the drainage work properly.
Yes, the roads have broken up. Water is not draining properly. Traffic jams are happening. And yes, the city infra has failed the citizens. But blaming the Govt NOW is not going to help resolve the current situation. The need of the hour is to help people be safe and secure.
Bollywood top shots have filed a PIL against the Govt for not being able to cope up with the rains. Fine, the Govt has not had adequate measures available to cope with this. But have those very people gone out and tried to help out the common man. NO! They sit in comfortable homes, go out in front of cameras and cry themselves hoarse about the Govt not doing enough. Crucify the Govt later after the city and people are safe and the danger has passed. It's easy to sit & point a finger, than to get up and help.
