Low-lying areas will flood again
Only 11 Of The 62 Proposed Works Have Been Completed …….Sharad Vyas
Mumbai: If the BMC’s progress report on Brimstowad is anything to go by, several low-lying areas will go under water this monsoon. Since the floods in 2005, only 11 of the proposed 62 works under Brimstowad—the Rs 1,200 crore project that promises to augment the city’s century-old drainage system—have been completed at a cost of Rs 422.78 crore. About 39 other works are in progress but will not be complete this monsoon.
“Over 21 works were approved by the standing committee since December last year, but not even one has taken off. On the other hand, bills are being prepared and money is all set to be sanctioned without any work being done,’’ a committee member alleged.
Officials admit that the existing drains are not ready to handle over 75mm of rainfall—along with high tide—during this monsoon. Typically, the city’s drains can discharge about 10% of the annual rainfall in a day. Therefore, curative measures were initiated to widen and deepen the drains and install pumping stations under Brimstowad after the July 2005 floods. Yet, despite taking current measures into account, even if it rains more than 75mm around the high tide time, water will accumulate in low-lying areas.
“Water will accumulate at 50 spots which are low-lying. However, all flood-mitigation measures have been taken at these places, including installation of water pumps,’’ said Kishore Gajbhiye, additional municipal commissioner.
Mumbai’s 3032.8km stormwater drain (SWD) network comprises 1,987km of open drains that run along the roads. The BMC claims to have de-silted and widened most of them. However, with more money due under Brimstowad this year, officials expect work to pick up pace.
For 2007-08, the central government provided Rs 400cr, another Rs 100cr was
processed for the subsequent year. “For 2009-10, the GOI has promised us Rs 600cr to carry out Brimstowad works,’’ said an official.
Part of this money will be used to expedite work on four major pumping stations—Haji Ali, Irla, Cleave Land Bunder and Love Grove—which are under progress.
When complete, Haji Ali and Irla stations will provide relief to Sleater Road, Nana Chowk, Mumbai Central, Vile Parle and JVPD Scheme.
IN DEEP WATER: Though BMC officials claim to have taken all steps to keep floods at bay, water will accumulate in 50 low-lying spots