Will get new jumbo centres strengthened to withstand strong winds, heavy rainfall: BMC

The roof of the Dahisar Covid centre got damaged on Monday. Pic/Satej Shinde

The BMC was in two minds about setting up three additional jumbo Covid-19 centres on open grounds after cyclone Tauktae damaged some of the existing ones on Monday, but after a meeting held on the issue on Tuesday, it decided to go ahead with the plan. They would only instruct the authorities concerned to strengthen the structures so that they can withstand strong winds and heavy rainfall.

As the BMC had to shift 580 patients from the Covid-19 centres to hospitals, concerns were raised over construction of the three new centres, which have been planned in view of a third wave. Meanwhile, the civic body will take about 10 days to repair the centres before opening them up again.

As per the plan, three places where the new centres will come up are Somaiya ground - Sion, Kanjurmarg and Malad. They will have a combined capacity of 5,300 beds, most of which would be oxygen ones. The MHADA (Somaiya), CIDCO (Kanjurmarg) and MMRDA (Malad) would be constructing the centres, which were supposed to be ready before June, but as of now not much groundwork has started.

Also Read: Cyclone Tauktae: Dahisar jumbo centre damaged

A BMC official said, "Out of the three centres, only Kanjurmarg will have a permanent structure. The other two centres are supposed to be built on open grounds just like the BKC and Dahisar Covid-19 centres."

"The BMC has decided to go ahead with the plan. We will instruct the authorities concerned to strengthen the structures so that we don't need to shift patients anywhere in the future," said Sanjyog Kabre, DMC and nodal officer for the centres. "As there are fewer patients now, we have enough beds in other hospitals," said another official.

Currently, the BMC has six jumbo Covid-19 centres - NSCI Worli, BKC-Bandra, NESCO-Goregaon, Kandarpada ICU centre-Dahisar, Dahisar jumbo centre and Mulund jumbo centre. The BKC and Dahisar centres suffered damage due to high-speed winds on Monday. The civic body had to shift patients from the BKC centre even last year during cyclone Nisarg.

"Luckily the second wave has subsided and we have empty beds in other hospitals. The situation would have been tricky if the cyclone happened a month back. The city also experiences heavy rainfall and strong winds during four months of monsoon, so there has to be some solution," said an official.

Speaking to mid-day, additional municipal commissioner, Suresh Kakani, said, "There are practical difficulties in starting Covid-19 centres at residential or commercial properties as arrangements have to be made for ventilators, oxygen supply, low-pressure rooms and large lifts. Though one room can be allotted to two patients, it will be tough to supervise their health. Jumbo centres are a more convenient option if we can sustain those through the monsoon period."

580
No. of patients BMC shifted to other hospitals