Experts criticize government, rescue forces; praise Mumbai Police
'July 26 disaster was man-made'

The auditorium in Sacred Heart School, Santacruz, echoed with applause as the speaker discussed the disaster that struck the city on July 26, at a public meeting organized by Action for Good Governance and Networking in India (AGNI) on Sunday.

Social activist and urban planner, Chandrashekar Prabhu said there was a cloud burst only in Santacruz measuring 900 mm rainfall. "Last week's tragedy was man-made and the concerned authorities must apologise for their mismanagement. Who should be held responsible for those dead?" he asked.

Most agreed that the Mumbai Police did their best in the situation compared to government authorities and rescue forces.

Arup Patnaik, joint commissioner of police (Law and Order) said: "We received calls from various pockets of the city and immediately sent our people. It took some time to reach the spot as it was flooded everywhere. Our priority was to rescue people and manage traffic."

The speakers also made suggestions on how to handle similar disasters. "Local issues should be decentralized and major issues on infrastructure, developmental plans, law and order - which affect the city at large - should be centralized."

Corporator from Santacruz (west) and Khar, Ashish Shelar's idea of implementing an exclusive radio station announcing news and the problems in the city was welcomed by all.

In a visual presentation, Gautam Rao, a member of the Guzdar Scheme Residents' Trust, Khar (West), said: "What happened in Mumbai last week is not new. We have been facing the same since the late 1990s. We have sent many complaint letters to the state government and the court has even issued orders, but no action has yet been taken."

The flooding and encroachment of slums around at Bandra - Kurla complex, was also discussed.

Shelar said: "The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority will jointly take up the Mithi river issue and work will start after October this year."

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