Speaking to reporters on Wednesday (May 28) after leading a BJP delegation to meet BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, Shelar demanded a white paper detailing how nearly ₹1 lakh crore has been spent over the last two decades on projects like nullah desilting, the Mithi River clean-up, flood control measures, and the long-pending BRIMSTOWAD project — with little visible impact on Mumbai’s monsoon preparedness.
“Despite spending ₹1 lakh crore, the condition of Mumbai has not improved. Who will take responsibility for this colossal failure?” Shelar asked, holding Uddhav Thackeray and Aaditya Thackeray directly accountable. “Before pointing fingers at the last three years, they must answer for their own track record over two decades.” According to Shelar, the BMC had a total budget outlay of around ₹80 lakh crore over 20 years, of which 40% was earmarked for development. From that, ₹1 lakh crore was spent specifically on stormwater drains, nullahs, the Mithi River, and BRIMSTOWAD. “What have Mumbaikars got in return? Waterlogged streets, broken promises, and poor governance,” he said.
The BJP delegation, which included several former corporators like Prabhakar Shinde, Vinod Mishra, Ravi Raja, Kamlesh Yadav, and others, met Commissioner Gagrani at the BMC headquarters, bypassing protocol in view of the urgency. The team raised several critical concerns — starting with the incomplete BRIMSTOWAD project. Shelar asked why, despite being designed to handle 25-50 mm of rainfall, the project still isn’t fully operational. “When we know that Mumbai often receives heavier rainfall, how can we still be unprepared?” he asked.
Shelar was particularly scathing about the Mithi River clean-up, calling it a “hub of corruption.” He questioned the volume of silt allegedly removed, the location of its disposal, and the amount spent — demanding transparency and accountability. He even claimed that some contracts were awarded in the names of deceased individuals and that silt dumping records include plots that don’t fall under the BMC’s jurisdiction — issues now reportedly under investigation by the Economic Offences Wing. “Shouldn’t Mumbai’s citizens be told the truth about where their money has gone?” Shelar asked.
The BJP leader also took aim at issues that directly affect citizens every monsoon — falling trees, landslides, and waterlogging. He criticised the BMC’s policy of charging private property owners for pruning trees, even when branches dangerously overhang public roads. He also pointed out that of 82 dangerous locations in Mumbai’s suburbs, 47 are landslide-prone. While MHADA has installed 9-foot nets, higher structures under the PWD remain unsecured due to funding issues. Shelar instructed the BMC to immediately release funds and complete the work before disaster strikes.
During the recent rainfall, pumps failed to function in many flood-prone areas. “Even the Britannia pumping station was on the verge of collapse, flooding South Mumbai. Why were pumps not in place?” Shelar asked.
He also alleged favouritism in contract allocations for the Coastal Road project, accusing Aaditya Thackeray of tweaking tender criteria to favour close aides, resulting in the use of substandard materials. “The public has a right to know what compromises were made and who benefited,” he said.
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