In a significant development, the stormwater department (SWD) of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) now wants the private developers to desilt, clean and clear nullahs. The SWD issued a letter to various departments, including building proposal and SRA, emphasising the importance of preventing flooding caused by major nullahs adjacent to or passing through development projects or lands under development.

In the letter, the SWD has directed other departments to instruct their staff to identify locations and take immediate steps to desilt, clean, and clear the open or covered major nullahs in collaboration with the developers. It is crucial to ensure unobstructed waterways for major and minor nullahs, as well as roadside drains, prior to the impending monsoon season. The letter clearly states that if flooding occurs due to insufficient or incomplete desilting of major nullahs in development projects, the stormwater department cannot be held responsible for any resulting flooding and its consequences. This directive was issued on June 7. As the issue of nullah cleaning grows more complex, there is a growing demand for clear responsibilities without any ambiguity.