Enforce clean air, medical service norms: Congress to BMC ahead of budget

Mumbai: Ahead of the civic budget, the Congress group in the BMC has written to the municipal commissioner pointing out expectations of citizens. On environment and air quality, it expects the civic body to provide enforcement protocols and measurable reduction targets. Regarding health, the party wants the BMC to establish medicine procurement tracking, stock accountability and service standards, while on water supply, it wants the BMC to include loss-reduction targets, ward-wise monitoring and timeline-based implementation to ensure reliable delivery of basic services.
Ashraf Azmi, Congress group leader in the BMC, in his letter to the commissioner, said the party has consistently highlighted issues related to air pollution, public health, sanitation, public transport, education, etc, which have also been promised in the party manifesto. Azmi said Mumbai continues to face worsening air quality due to construction dust, debris and emissions and the administration has also promised anti-smog enforcement at construction sites, river rejuvenation and air-quality monitoring mechanisms, but the party also expect the civic body to ensure ward-level responsibility and measurable reduction targets, so as to enable assurances are implemented. While pointing out unequal distribution and leakages in water supply, apart from gaps in sanitation, Azmi said the party has consistently demanded equitable distribution and local accountability in delivery. Demanding the revival of BEST, Azmi said the budget should therefore specify fleet strengthening targets, service frequency benchmarks and operational strengthening so that public transport accessibility improves in measurable terms. The Congress, while seeking strengthening of municipal education, particularly Marathi-medium schools, demanded the budget include measurable academic support and monitoring indicators.