Repairs to be finished at 60 waterlogging sites before rains

Mumbai: Mumbai is likely to get some relief from flooding this monsoon as the work to improve around 220 waterlogging spots is expected to be completed before the rains. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), after the deluge of August 2017, had identified 225 major waterlogging locations of which 160 were repaired last year. The civic body said that remedial work on 60 more locations would be completed before the monsoon this year.

“The work included installing box drains, connecting drains and widening of nullahs, which helps rainwater recede fast. Most work has been carried out on the older drains. The effect was seen during the last monsoon and there will be more relief from waterlogging this year,” said Shrikant Kawale, chief engineer of the BMC’s storm-water drains department. However, work on crucial waterlogging locations such as Hindmata may not be completed this year.

The BMC claims that due to strengthening and widening of the stormwater drainage system in the last few years, the rainwater receding capacity has increased to 50 mm per hour from earlier 25 mm. Mr Kawale said that last year, the SWD department had undertaken the reconstruction of around 3,098 metres of drains across the city of which work for 2,613 metres is completed. The remaining 485 metres will be done before the monsoon, which will help rainwater recede faster in areas like Lalbaug, Mazgaon, Byculla, Lalbaug and Parel.

Mr Kawale added, “The western suburbs will also get huge relief this year as we will start the Gazdhar Bandh pumping station. The new contractor is fast and work will be completed in time.”