In the financial capital, governance is a high-stakes arena, involving the nation’s richest civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), and the intervention of the Bombay High Court. Issues of public health, land management, and democratic integrity dominate the current dialogue.
1. The Judicial Watchdog: Bombay High Court’s Directives
The Bombay High Court (HC) continues to play an active, interventionist role in civic matters, upholding its position as the guardian of public rights:
- Pollution Accountability: The HC has been particularly stringent regarding the air quality crisis, setting up independent committees to inspect construction sites and demanding action-taken reports from the BMC and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). The court is actively pushing authorities toward greater accountability on environmental matters.
- Dump Site Grievances: The court is actively hearing petitions from residents near major dumping grounds (like Kanjurmarg), directing high-level committees to resolve grievances and emphasizing the issue as one of basic human rights.
- Caste Verification Law: In a significant ruling, the HC upheld the Maharashtra law requiring Central Government employees availing reservation benefits to obtain caste validity certificates, reinforcing the state’s legislative competence in social planning.
2. Civic Election Flashpoints (The BMC Polls)
Though the BMC general elections have been delayed, preparations—and political tensions—are reaching a fever pitch.
- Voter Roll Integrity: The BMC is currently conducting an extensive door-to-door verification drive to identify and rectify massive discrepancies in the draft electoral rolls, including thousands of duplicate and inactive names. Activists and political parties (like the Shiv Sena (UBT)) have raised strong objections, demanding transparency to ensure the integrity of the upcoming polls.
- Thackeray Alliance Talks: The political landscape remains fluid, with meetings between Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray sparking speculation about a potential alliance for the civic polls, which could significantly alter the balance of power against the ruling coalition.
- Advertisement Policy: The BMC has released a comprehensive new policy on outdoor advertisements, banning hoardings on footpaths and building terraces, and setting size limits (max 40×40 ft) on billboards. This move gained urgency following the tragic Ghatkopar billboard crash earlier in the year.
3. Infrastructure vs. Community
- Local Infrastructure Gaps: In major suburbs like Mulund and Kurla, residents and activists are flagging a widening gap between rapid, high-rise redevelopment and the slow pace of civic infrastructure upgrades (water, sewage, roads, and open spaces), arguing that quality of life is declining despite increased construction.