Mumbai: Mayor Kishori Pednekar responds to tweet, gas cylinders in Kandivli seized

Mayor Kishori Pednekar. File Pic

In a quick response, civic officials seized dozens of gas cylinders within two hours of a citizen redressal forum tweeting to Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar regarding them being piled up in a residential locality in Kandivli.

The officials were accompanied by deputy mayor Suhas Wadkar, stated a report in The Times of India.

@MNCDFbombay (Mumbai North Central District Forum) tweeted a complaint to Pednekar at 7.08pm which read, "Ma'am Mayor @KishoriPednekar bringing to ur urgent notice, trucks turned into Gas cylinder godowns. As per ur request we're tagging @mybmc! BMC, Police & State Govt will be solely responsible in case of mishap. Location: Near Poinsur Gymkhana near Pushpanjali Build, Kandivali (W)."

Trivan Karnani, a lawyer, said they tweeted after they read her statement last week to submit complaints regarding gas cylinders piled up in areas. Pednekar was speaking against the backdrop of a gas cylinder blast in a godown at Yari Road on February 10, which injured four persons. By 9.01 pm the mayor replied that Wadkar had visited the spot and action has been taken.

Karnani said the complaint came from a resident of Poinsur. "Generally, one does not see such speedy action however sensitive the issue maybe, but this time, coming from the mayor herself was definitely welcome," said Karnani.

Pednekar said she does not think she did anything noteworthy and her priority was to resolve citizens' issues. "Whichever issues I feel can be resolved immediately I step up and give directions to get it done," she said.

Wadkar said he was in Goregaon for the inauguration of a chowk when he got a call from Pednekar.

"She told me to go myself and ensure action is taken. I called up the local police and BMC officials, and headed to the site," said Wadkar.

Assistant municipal commissioner (R central ward) Sanjay Kurhade said around a dozen cylinders were seized. "The trucks with many gas cylinders park in residential areas and undertake distribution which can be harmful. Ideally, they should distribute them from the godown itself. Therefore, we seized some," he said.