Mumbai: BMC Contractor Booked for 'Damaging' Banganga Steps, Repair Work Underway at Heritage Site

A BMC contractor assigned the desilting work of the 11th-century Banganga temple tank in Mumbai’s Malabar Hill area, was booked for allegedly damaging the steps leading to the water body. Maharashtra cabinet minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha has assured that the repair work on the steps will be completed in the next 72 hours.

The heritage tank is now being repaired after the steps were left damaged by a JCB machine, which was used during the desilting work. Lodha asked officials to contact Mumbai police commissioner Vivek Phansalkar to file an FIR against the contractor. He ordered that the contractor should be blacklisted and directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and civic officials to begin repair work immediately. He also asked the civic body to form a committee to probe the incident, and submit a report in the next 15 days.

“We are always committed to preserving and conserving Mumbai’s historical heritage. The site will soon be restored to its original state,” Lodha said.

The temple site is of historical and spiritual significance. It traces its history right up to the Ramayana and it is said that it was here that Hindu deity Ram made an idol out of sand and prayed to it.

Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora slammed the BMC for its misgovernance and said this will not be tolerated under chief minister Eknath Shinde. He alleged that the BMC has been plundered “as an ATM for almost 3 decades”. “Glad to see the GSB Temple Trust & @ASIGoI taking action against those responsible for the #Banganga mishap. They have my full support. @mybmc has been plundered as an ATM for almost 3 decades. Under @mieknathshinde Ji, we will not tolerate BMC’s misgovernance,” he said in a post on X.

Congress leader Varsha Gaikwad also said there should be strict action in the matter. “I want action should be taken in this matter as a large number of devotees visit here…” she added.