Why You Should Stop Blaming the BMC for Mumbai Floods, According to the Bombay High Court
The Bombay High Court has stated that citizens share responsibility for Mumbai's monsoon flooding due to illegal encroachments and blocking drains. The Court criticised the habit of blaming the BMC while occupying public space. Meanwhile, a road-widening project is delayed pending a decision by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre on land transfer.
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The Bombay High Court has observed that Mumbai's recurring monsoon flooding is driven as much by citizens' actions as by the shortcomings of civic authorities. During a hearing on Tuesday, July 7, a Division Bench emphasised that illegal land grabbing, the obstruction of drainage systems, and the encroachment of public spaces are significant contributors to the city’s waterlogging challenges.
Court Highlights Public Role in Infrastructure Issues
The bench, led by Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad, heard petitions regarding the removal of encroachments for a road-widening project in a Mumbai suburb. During the proceedings, the Court cautioned against placing the entirety of the blame on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Holiday Declared for Schools in Mumbai on July 8? BMC Reveals Truth About Viral Message.
"One small spell of rain blocks the roads in Mumbai. It's our own creation. We should stop blaming the corporation," remarked Acting Chief Justice Ghuge. The Court detailed how civic infrastructure, including footpaths and drainage lines, has been systematically encroached upon. "Corporation gave us footpaths. We started having pav bhaji, pav masala, sabudana vada and everything. Stalls on that," noted the Court. The judges further described how drainage lines have been covered and public spaces converted into unauthorised parking lots or occupied by street vendors, complicating the city’s flood management efforts.
Critique of Illegal Encroachments
Justice Ghuge also criticised the practice of seeking legal protection only after public land has been encroached upon. "When the corporation comes for demolition, you say give me seven days notice. Then suddenly the law books are opened... When you grab the land, nobody reads the law," he stated. The Court maintained that unless there is a shift in the culture surrounding illegal land occupation, Mumbai will continue to face challenges with waterlogging. "We are destined to see rainwater on the road," the Court observed. High Tide Timing in Mumbai for Today: Wave Measuring 3.77 Metres Expected at 5:17 PM PM on July 8.
Status of Road Widening Project
The remarks came in the context of a dispute over road widening. The BMC informed the Court that it had already cleared encroachments to maintain a 30-foot-wide road, a process that necessitated the felling of 192 trees. However, the corporation noted that the land required to expand the road to 50 feet is under the jurisdiction of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), which operates under the Union Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). The BMC stated that for the expansion to proceed, BARC would need to provide the necessary encroachment-free land. The High Court has directed the DAE to determine if it is willing to part with the required land. The matter is scheduled for further hearing in the last week of July.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 08, 2026 04:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
