Mumbai Flooding: High Court Says Encroachments by Citizens Are a Key Cause
The Bombay High Court has stated that Mumbai's recurrent waterlogging during the monsoon is largely a result of encroachments and improper waste disposal by citizens, rather than a failure of the civic body alone.
A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra V Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad observed that the city is "destined" to see waterlogged roads because people block gutters with waste, convert paved areas into illegal parking spots, and crowd footpaths with food stalls.
Expressing displeasure, Acting Chief Justice Ghuge noted that even footpaths outside the High Court are occupied by illegal shops. "Our habit is to rob our own motherland. We grab land illegally, and then look for law books only when demolition notices arrive," he said.
The court was hearing a petition related to waterlogging in the city. The remarks came as the court discussed the need for citizens to take responsibility for maintaining public infrastructure.
In a related matter, the High Court issued a formal notice to the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) regarding a road-widening project in Mandala village along the Sion-Trombay stretch. Representing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), senior advocate Milind Sathe informed the court that the civic body has already cleared encroachments and felled 192 trees to maintain the existing 30-foot road.
The BMC stated it is ready to widen the stretch to 50 feet if the DAE — which oversees the nearby Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) — hands over the remaining 20 feet of encroachment-free land. The court noted that the DAE needs to make a definitive decision on the land transfer and has scheduled the matter for a follow-up hearing later this month.
