Aluminium net nullah covers to catch plastic trash on the cards

To prevent nullahs choking with garbage, especially plastic trash, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation may think of covering nullah with aluminium net. The proposal will be tabled for discussion before the general body meeting next week.

Jagruti Patil, a Bhartiya Janta Party corporator from Bhandup has moved a notice of motion demanding small nullahs to be covered with a net. A choked nullah is a breeding place for serious civic issues including flooding and mosquitoes.

Despite a ban on certain types of plastic, plastic in another form is being used extensively. Due to lack of proper mechanism, these plastics are being dumped anywhere and everywhere which ultimately find their way to the drains or nullahs.

"The plastic ban must be implemented at the mass level. Everyone blames us for waterlogging but nobody fulfils their own duties. It's everyone's responsibility, yet no one's doing the job," said a civic official.

Speaking about the health issues that arise from choked nullahs Patil said, "Choked nullahs can create a number health issues like malaria and dengue. Covering them up with a net can prevent waste choking them up."

Patil also pointed out that most nullahs along schools, hospitals and public places are chocked due to garbage and other waste. Since these places receive a good number of footfalls, chances of people falling ill doubles.

Even in the past, it was observed that plastic was responsible for waterlogging. Usually, the civic body cleans nullah before the monsoon. However, thereafter, the frequency of nullah cleaning comes down.

A civic activist said that plastic bags below 50 microns were banned in 2006, one year after the deluge. However, plastic, mostly the thin one, was dumped in nullahs frequently. It leads to clogging and subsequently waterlogging. "Net can be a temporary solution. However, a complete ban on all types of plastic use is the permanent solution," said the activist.