BMC deploys 250 dewatering pumps as pre-monsoon rains intensify in Mumbai | File Photo
Mumbai: The alert for rainfall with thunderstorms continuous for Mumbai and considering the intensity of the pre-monsoon rainfall, the BMC has deployed around 250 dewatering pumps to prevent flooding.
On Tuesday, the BMC’s monsoon preparedness was exposed as with the brief heavy rainfall, all traditional spots including Andheri and Dahisar subway, Saki Naka and others went under wayer, bringing the traffic to a grinding halt.
Notably, as of May 23, the BMC has completed overall total only 67.37% of its pre-monsoon storm water desilting work, as per the official website which provides live data. While, only 51% of Mithi River desilting is completed and 57% of minor drains desilting is done so far. The deadline for complete the premonsoon desilting is May 31.
In practicality, at several areas the silt removed from minor drains, remains uncollected lying roadside, which was one of the main reasons for roadside waterlogging on Tuesday.
Speaking with the FPJ, Additional municipal commissioner Abhijit Bangar on said that the desilting work is not completed yet and corporation’s priority to complete before the onset of monsoon.
“We have deployed additional manpower to ensure the dewatering pumps at the strategic locations operational at the time of need. There have been incidents in the last the the pumps fail to work during crisis. Draining out the rainwater during the minutes of heavy rainfall is crucial to prevent severe flooding,” he said.
Mumbai has a total of 386 flooding spots identified by the civic body and the BMC will be installing 417 dewatering pumps at the crucial locations this year. Last monsoon, the civic body had installed 482 dewatering pumps, however with the expansion of certain storm water drains (SWD), the necessity of the number of dewatering pumps has decreased this year, the BMC recently said in its statement.
Chief Engineer (SWD) S Choudhary said that as of Friday, the BMC has already deployed around 250 dewatering pumps although the monsoon is yet to arrive.
“The desilting objective is to complete desilting of all major and minor drains before the full-fledged monsoon rains arrive. During this pre-monsoon rainfall, the pace of desilting work has not affected, however transportation of the silt to the dumping ground takes times. The silt is wet and heavy and dumping grounds are wet too. The dumping site are outside Mumbai and transportation it via roads during rains is time consuming,” the officer said.
As per the progress report of SWD department, as of May 21, only 49.51% of Mithi River desilting was completed. While, 84.42% desilting was completed in the western suburbs, 85.29% in eastern suburbs and 70.16% of City area is completed.
The BMC recently blacklisted the firm, Bhumika Transport which was appointed for storm water drains desilting in M West ward (Chembur). The contractor was accused of transporting materials other silt to the dumping ground. However, with almost a week remaining to the deadline, the BMC is been forced to continue with the same contractor.
“We tried to continue to work with another contractor after the existing one was blacklisted, but it did not work out due to lack of tome. The additional commissioner has directed to appoint new contractor, however it the process will take two months. Thus, we have ordered the M West ward officer to continue the remaining desilting work from the same contractor,” said a senior officer from SWD department.
Shankar Bhosale, M-West ward officer said, “We are continuing the work with the blacklisted contractor, however the pace of work is slightly affected. We are trying best complete the work on time.”
Notably, several prime locations in Chembur and congested locations like Tilak Nagar colony has uncollected silt lying on roadside from past many days. The residents are facing inconveniences due to the collected silt by the contractor and lack of actions by the ward office.
