Mumbai: BMC's plans for storm drains to keep terrorists at bay

Storm water drainage works at Byculla. File pic

The question that keeps coming back to us is whether Mumbai will ever be able to get rid of waterlogging every monsoon. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) says it plans to deal with it by addressing a number of flood-prone spots across the city. As per the budget tabled on Wednesday, a total of Rs 1,149.74 crore has been allocated for storm water drains work. The BMC also plans to instal steel grills at about 100 outfalls of the drains. This in turn will also help avoid possible terrorist attacks through the sea.

Civic sources said that an international consultant was being finalised to address the flooding problems on a long-term basis. Under this initiative, the BMC has identified 386 chronic flooding spots, out of which 171 have already been tackled. The civic body will look into 120 additional flooding spots before the onset of monsoon this year, mentions the budget speech document. Work on 29 spots will start this year and be completed by next year's monsoon. Detailed planning for another 22 spots is underway. Apart from this, another 44 spots fall under the jurisdiction of other authorities and private owners and work at those places would be coordinated with them.

Meanwhile, for yet another year the two storm water pumping stations at Mogra and Mahul remain on paperDue to land acquisition issues, the tenders invited were cancelled, but now the BMC plans to construct the Mogra pumping station within the nullah in the area to save the cost of land acquisition. Tenders for the same would be invited soon.

Requesting anonymity, a civic official said, "This budget focuses on capital expenditure of various departments. A high amount has been allocated for storm water drainage to deal with the city's flooding problem. Even the protective grills will ensure that miscreants do not use the drains to enter the city after they dry up."