‘Mumbai will soon become Joshimath if…’: Aaditya Thackeray slams Maharashtra CM Shinde
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray came down heavily on the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government’s decision to concretise 400km roads in Mumbai, stating that concrete roads do not absorb water and the construction of such roads may soon turn the financial capital of India into another Joshimath.
A number of houses have been rendered ‘unsafe’ for habitation and several other public facilities are also on the verge of collapse as cracks have developed in most of these structures as a result of a geological phenomenon called land subsidence – gradual settling or sinking of the surface due to erosion of water and other resources from the ground. Moreover, over-concretisation has made matters worse for the holy town. Demolition work has already started on several structures and residents have been moved to safety, even as government agencies such as the Central Building Research Institute are struggle to find ways to prevent Joshimath from collapsing all together.
“No city in the world is entirely covered with concrete roads. Concrete roads don’t absorb rainwater. If there is a flood in Mumbai, who will be responsible for it? If a situation like Joshimath arises in Mumbai tomorrow, who will be responsible?” asked Aaditya Thackeray.
“Mumbai does not require concrete roads. Peddar road and Marine Drive are asphalt roads…I appeal to politicians across the party lines to call out this scam. Otherwise, Mumbai will have to pay the price for it,” said the Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA.
Opposing the concretisation of the 400km roads in Mumbai, Aditya Thackeray said the state government is out to loot the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). “At a time when there are no public representatives, how can the civic body float tenders worth Rs 6,000 crores?” asked Thackeray.
Earlier, Aditya Thackeray claimed that the tenders for concretisation of roads in Mumbai were floated at a higher price for the benefit of contractors. The municipal corporation rubbished the claims, stating that the cost of construction materials had increased and hence, companies were not willing to work at the rates at which the tender was issued.
