Mumbai, August 17: In a veiled dig at ally Shiv Sena, Union Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nitin Gadkari said Mumbai gets flooded every year during monsoon even when the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has a huge amount in the bank. Nitin Gadkari made the remarks after performing 'bhumi pujan' (groundbreaking) for a mangroves park in Gorai area on Friday.

Shiv Sena, an old ally of the BJP in Maharashtra, has been running the BMC for two decades. Every year, Mumbai witnesses a flood-type situation during the monsoon season. "I have heard that the BMC has Rs 58,000 crore in fixed deposits. And every year we see on TV Mumbai getting flooded (during monsoon), roads going underwater. This happens every year," Gadkari said in an apparent swipe at Shiv Sena. Nitin Gadkari Faints During National Anthem at an Event in Maharashtra’s Solapur; Watch Video.

Gadkari said the money (which the BMC has) can also be used to recycle the waste which is discharged into the sea. The union minister pitched for the involvement of a private company to tackle issues faced by Mumbai.  Gadkari further claimed that the clean, pollution-free seashore of Mauritius can be replicated in Mumbai as well. Mumbai Rains: Journalist Survives Fall Into Open Manhole, Mocks BMC on Twitter.

"It (the city) has a huge coastal stretch which is ideal for waterways. A pollution-free waterfront in Mumbai can be achieved with the help of a dedicated team of experts… In Venice (Italy) we often see how efficiently water transport operates. I have a plan to bring water taxis to Mumbai. It is achievable," he said.

Gadkari’s remarks on the BMC, however, didn't go well with Shiv Sena. "I am sure our party president Uddhav Thackeray will give a befitting reply to Gadkari," a Shiv Sena leader was quoted by The Indian Express as saying.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 17, 2019 10:06 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).