Daijiworld Media Network (SHP)

Mumbai, Jun 13: Monsoons have arrived and natural calamities like floods have high possibility of taking place. Delay in providing emergency help or unavailability of private aids during these critical times will face strict action from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Under the Disaster Management Act, failure to provide transport and food services by respective entities can land them in Jail.

The charges can lead to a fine or imprisonment of upto one year if and when they deny the help. If there is a casualty as a result of lack of help, the ones responsible can face imprisonment for upto two years.

Policies and penalties are yet to be defined by the civic body and the fine amount will be decided by authority soon. The authority in Mumbai is governed by an additional municipal commissioner. All the rules and regulations are said to be stated clearly to the private entities in the notices that would be issued to them under the Disaster Management Act.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is said to have formulated a report consisting of an action plan which will enable the civic body to forecast the extent of mishap in advance. This will help in alerting the residents and commuters. It will enable them to then gather at their nearest civic shelter.

BMC is marking the flood prone areas and highlighting the chronic areas on a daily basis.

“These are private transport services in most cases, along with BEST buses and the food services are mostly non-governmental organizations or food joints. If we need to activate our evacuation plan in any flooding-prone spot, these private entities will be alerted about their job. We will invoke the act to make them comply, if they do not agree,” One of the senior civic officials said.