Mumbai: BMC conducts mid- monsoon review to prevent damage due to landslides

A wall collapsed in Chembur due to a landslide, killing 18 people on July 18. Pic/Sameer Markande

After a landslide struck many parts of the city, killing at least 29 people in Bhandup and Mahul areas two weeks ago, the BMC's disaster management cell has sprung into action and recommended a slew of measures and strong coordination with all the agencies concerned. These recommendations include identification of vulnerable spots and checking the stability of retaining walls, construction and repair of walls wherever necessary and also ensuring the flow of water at the hilltop has unhindered access.

A majority of times, landslides occur where illegal constructions have come up on mushy land. This can cause danger to the lives of those residing there as the flow of water is obstructed and the pressure causes the retaining walls to break. The BMC already has a list of such vulnerable spots, which they identified after conducting a detailed survey. Based on this report, the agencies concerned prepared directions and recommendations to implement the guided measures.

This decision was taken in a mid-monsoon review held on Saturday. Representatives of Central and Western Railways, Indian Navy, National Disaster Response Authority, Indian Meteorological Department, Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban Collectorate, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, MHADA, Mumbai Metro, State Government Public Works Department and BEST, among others, were present for this meeting.

The agencies also instructed the local ward offices to ensure that temporary accommodation is readied for those willing to move out of their houses, whenever there is high alert and warnings of landslides. The ward officers will also have to coordinate with concerned agencies such as MHADA, PWD and the suburban collector office to ensure that the retaining walls' stability is checked, said officials present at the meeting.

One of the officials present at the meeting said, "There was proper coordination so far, but instructions on checking the landslide-hit areas is more important. These need to be followed up by checking on the stability of retaining walls. Most importantly, there should be unhindered flow of water from hillocks so that the retaining walls are not damaged. This will be done by the concerned authorities who own the land."