16 July,2026 12:17 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Uddhav Thackeray. File Pic
The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) on Thursday criticised the BJP-led Mahayuti government in Maharashtra, alleging that the first spell of the monsoon has exposed shortcomings in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) infrastructure works and civic administration.
In an editorial published in the party mouthpiece Saamana, Shiv Sena (UBT) alleged that the BMC had failed to fix accountability in connection with the Chembur tree collapse that claimed the life of an 11-year-old boy. The party also accused the civic administration of protecting its officials instead of taking action against those responsible.
The criticism comes in the wake of the June 30 incident in Chembur, where an 11-year-old boy, Vihaan Srivastav, died and several other children were injured after a large roadside tree fell on their school bus near Diamond Garden.
Following the incident, the BMC constituted an internal inquiry committee to investigate the cause of the tree collapse. According to the committee's findings, the civic body's Gardens and Roads departments were not held responsible for the incident. Instead, it recommended a combined penalty of Rs 7 lakh on the contractor and the supervising project consultant.
Reacting to the report, the Saamana editorial described the inquiry as a "predetermined, favourable script."
"The committee appeared to have been engineered to deliver a predetermined, favourable script. By declaring the Gardens and Roads departments entirely innocent and settling for a minor fine on the contractor, the administration has given its own officials a free pass," it remarked.
The editorial further alleged that the inquiry lacked independence, claiming that an official associated with Mumbai's road concreting projects was also a member of the committee investigating the incident.
According to the party, such an arrangement raised questions about the impartiality of the findings. It also argued that concerns raised by experts and local residents regarding excessive and unscientific road concreting around tree roots had not been adequately addressed by the civic administration.
"The Municipal Commissioner has flatly denied that unscientific road concretisation plays a role in weakening tree roots. The Mumbai Mayor and other ruling politicians have actively blamed the concreting works in an apparent bid to deflect public anger. With the release of the controversial report, Mayor publicly rejected its findings, demanding a criminal case against the contractor instead of a mere penalty," said the Thackeray camp.
The editorial questioned why the civic administration had not taken stronger action if it believed lapses had occurred.
"The Commissioner was appointed by you. The ruling power in the Municipal Corporation belongs to you. The committee to investigate the Chembur tragedy was formed by you," the editorial pointed out. "Yet, when the committee's findings spark outrage, you are the ones performing high drama."
The party alleged that conflicting statements from civic officials and elected representatives had created confusion over responsibility for the incident.
In its concluding remarks, the editorial expanded its criticism to the state and Central governments, alleging that similar patterns of governance and accountability were visible at multiple levels of administration.
"From the Centre down to the civic bodies, Mumbai is unfortunately being ruled by an administration of absolute deceit, leaving ordinary citizens and children to pay the price," the editorial said.
(With inputs from IANS)
