Solving water crisis top priority: Municipal commissioner

Swadhin Kshatriya took charge as the municipal commissioner on Friday, and immediately identified his biggest challenges — to solve the financial crisis of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation [BMC], and to deal with the acute water crisis in the city. “To get things in shape, I will need a lot of support from the Mumbaikars,” he said.

“Providing equitable water supply across the city and making the BMC a financially strong and stable body are my top priorities,” Kshatriya said. “I will concentrate on providing basic amenities and better civic services to the Mumbaikars.”

Talking about the inadequate water stock, he said, “We will have to manage with the stock we have till the next monsoon. We will try to supply adequate water to all Mumbaikars.” He added that the water distribution system needed to be restructured. “I will review the distribution system. If it turns out to be faulty, I will try and correct it.”

Making light of the difficulties he faces, Kshatriya quipped, “No one wanted me to be the civic boss two years ago, when the civic body was hale and hearty.”