DNA Micro Edit: Water pumping stations need of the hour

Barely a few hours of showers that hit the city last week had the usual result — waterlogging in several areas in the central and western suburbs.

After the July 2005 deluge, in which over 200 people lost their lives, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation planned the Brihanmumbai Storm Water Disposal System (Brimstowad) project, under which the civic body had planned to develop eight water pumping stations, capable of flushing out extra water during heavy rains. However, even after 12 years, there has been slow progress.

The BMC has managed to operationalise only five of the eight proposed pumping stations. Even an official from the BMC’s storm water drains (SWD) department has accepted that during high tide, waterlogging in low lying areas cannot be prevented as proposed water pumping stations at Mahul and Mogra have not seen the light of day. The civic body has not received land for these two pumping stations.

Last week, after some areas got flooded, the BMC issued a show cause notice to a senior official from the SWD department for missing two deadlines to start the Guzderbandh pumping station, which could have prevented waterlogging in some areas. Having already spent Rs 400 crore on the Brimstowad project, the BMC claims that it is ready to tackle flooding. However, its response during pre-monsoon showers does not inspire any confidence.

While the Guzderbandh pumping station should be operationalised soon, there is an urgent need to expedite the Mahul and Mogra projects by resolving land issues that are holding it up.