Oppn slams Sena-BJP for Mumbai's fall in cleanliness ranking

With Mumbai's cleanliness ranking coming down this year, the opposition parties today slammed the ruling Shiv Sena, which in turn blamed the civic administration and the state government for the poor show.
The metropolis slipped to the 29th position in the 'Swachh Survekshan-2017' from the 10th position last year. This is despite the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) appointing clean-up marshals and making Salman Khan the face of its Swachh Bharat Abhiyan campaign.
According to 'Swachh Survekshan-2017' announced by Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi yesterday, Indore emerged as the cleanest city in India, while Bhopal bagged the second position in the cleanliness ranking of 434 cities.

Talking about Mumbai's ranking, Congress city unit chief Sanjay Nirupam said, "This survey is a proof that the allegations that we had levelled (against the Sena-BJP) before the recent civic elections, were true. Not only squalor, the city is marred by potholes, choked gutters, etc."
Lashing out at the two saffron parties ruling the Mumbai civic body, he said, "Now, Sena and BJP should stop fighting and start working for the city."
NCP city unit president Sachin Ahir also expressed concerns over the city's falling cleanliness ranking.

"This survey did not surprise me at all. It proves that the issues that we had been raising were right. It was bound to happen as the government is wasting energy on infighting. This is a wake-up call for the two ruling parties to bury the hatchet and get into action," he said.

Terming it as the "failure" of the Sena-BJP government, Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi said, "This (results) has proven that the two saffron parties are just making tall promises and polarising the people on religious and emotional grounds. Their work for development is equal to zero."
When asked, the Shiv Sena said the BMC administration and the state government were responsible for the city's fall in the ranking.
"Executive power lies with the administration and we should not forget that the civic commissioner is appointed by the state government. If Indore has secured the top ranking, then commissioner of Indore is largely credited for it," Sena spokesperson Arvind Bhosale said.

BJP leader and spokesperson Ram Kadam, however, said the opposition should not play politics over the issue and urged it to come forward to help.
"With the help of everyone, including the political opponents, we would overcome this. We will create awareness among public and inculcate a sense of discipline among the citizens. We are confident that we will maintain high level of cleanliness as per the international standards," he said.