Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde on Tuesday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials to complete desilting of all the nullahs by May 31, as part of pre-monsoon preparations. She also directed them to deploy robotic equipment wherever necessary to ensure efficient cleaning. The mayor, accompanied by Standing Committee Chairman Prabhakar Shinde, inspected the ongoing desilting and road development works in the eastern suburbs on Tuesday morning. She was joined by ward committee chairpersons, corporators, and senior officials from the storm water drains, roads, and traffic departments. PICS/BMC

BMC contract workers clear sewage sludge from a roadside gutter at Veera Desai Road in Mumbai on Sunday, May 3, as part of pre-monsoon desilting efforts to prevent flooding. (Pics/Atul Kamble)