The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) in Maharashtra on Thursday said that it was starting a special drain cleaning drive alongside its ongoing cleanliness campaign ahead of the arrival of the monsoon season.
An official statement said that a large-scale cleanliness campaign is underway in Thane, and the civic body will begin drain cleaning work from Friday, April 10, as part of efforts to improve sanitation across the city.
It said that the campaign is being carried out under the vision of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, with leadership of Thane Mayor Sharmila Pimpalolkar and under the guidance from Thane Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao.
Cleanliness drives in key Thane areas
The officials said that on Friday morning, a cleanliness drive will be conducted at the Indiranagar Naka in Lokmanya Savarkar Nagar ward and it will begin at 8 am. A drive will also be launched near Darul Falah Masjid area in Mumbra area in Thane district at 9:30 am.
Local representatives and civic officials are expected to take part in these activities, they said.
Drain cleaning work to begin in Mumbra
The statement said that following the cleanliness drives, the drain cleaning work will be formally launched at 10 am at Amrut Nagar Nala in the Mumbra ward area.
Senior civic officials, including the mayor and municipal commissioner, will be present at the event.
Focus on citywide sanitation
According to Deputy Commissioner of Solid Waste Management Madhukar Bodke, the initiative aims to improve overall cleanliness and ensure proper drainage ahead of the monsoon season.
BMC accelerates Mithi River desilting
Meanwhile, the BMC has intensified desilting operations across the Mithi River and key drainage networks, with officials setting a firm deadline of May 31, 2026, to complete the work ahead of the monsoon.
Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar has directed officials to accelerate desilting work across major and minor drains, particularly at waterlogging-prone locations. He emphasized the need for structured planning, including strict timelines for each drain, with start and completion schedules to be made publicly accessible via a digital dashboard.
Daily targets have also been mandated to ensure timely completion, while contractors have been instructed to provide real-time updates on machinery deployment as per tender conditions.
Field Inspections Across Key Locations
Bangar conducted an on-ground inspection on April 3, reviewing ongoing desilting works in the Mithi River and eastern suburbs. Under a three-package plan, work has commenced at five locations along the river. Key sites inspected included stretches near the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority office, and areas near a prominent international school in the vicinity.
In addition, inspections were carried out at Boundary Nala in Mulund and Somaiya Nala in Ghatkopar, where officials were directed to prioritise flood-prone zones and coordinate closely with local representatives.
