Mumbai cracks down on pests with surprise civic facility inspections
Mumbai’s Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide carried out surprise inspections across the city this week. She visited key civic facilities to assess pest control and waste management operations. The move follows growing concerns over food waste and mosquito breeding in public areas. Bhide began her tour at the pesticide control outpost in Fort, Mumbai’s oldest pest control station. She also inspected the A-2 road repair depot, a sewerage unit, and the S.K. Patil Garden road repair depot. Other stops included the student study centre, the Nana Chowk pesticide control unit, and the Lovegrove stormwater pumping station.
During the visits, she highlighted the urgent need for better pest control. Food waste from roadside eateries and street food hubs has led to a rise in rats, stray cats, and mosquitoes. To tackle this, Bhide ordered officials to enforce stricter waste disposal rules. Restaurants must now collect food waste in sealed bags before handing it to municipal agencies. She also instructed construction sites to deploy staff and set up systems to prevent mosquito breeding. Additionally, Bhide emphasised the importance of citizen complaints, calling them the administration’s 'eyes and ears'. Officials were told to use the BMC’s 'Maarg' system more effectively for faster grievance resolution.
The inspections aim to improve Mumbai’s waste and pest management systems. Restaurants, construction sites, and civic staff now face stricter guidelines to reduce health risks. Bhide’s directives focus on immediate action to address long-standing issues in the city.
