The BMC’s attempts to rope in the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team for rescue operations during the monsoons have again failed this year. The central agency has turned down the civic body’s requests for posting its team in the city, saying that they would rush to Mumbai whenever necessary.
A senior civic official said, “We felt that the presence of the NDRF will boost our monsoon preparedness and had requested them
to deploy their teams across the city. However, they said they can quickly reach Mumbai from
their base in Talegaon in case of any emergency and that there was no need to deploy the teams in Mumbai.”
Two years ago, the NDRF had agreed to send three of its teams to Mumbai for disaster management. Each team had 45 jawans and they were deployed in Grant Road (D ward), Kurla (L ward) and Andheri (K/East ward), which are considered to be one of most flood-affected areas in the city. They were in the city for the whole of monsoons. They has brought with them hi-tech equipment and machinery.
However, last year the NDRF had not sent its teams, and this monsoon too the BMC’s attempts to avail their services have failed. “What is worrying us is the fact that during crisis the NDRF teams will take at least three to four hours to reach the city and this initial period is considered to be very important in disaster management. That is why we wanted their presence in the city,” the official said.