The civic body proposes to make its sub-engineers directly responsible for monitoring catchment areas across the city and the suburbs, to be able to tackle the waterlogging during the monsoon better.
Describing the initiative in its budget proposals for 2014-15 that were presented this week, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) says it has identified 122 locations where it has been found that water accumulates, causing inconvenience to citizens.
About 80 sub-engineers are to be assigned to these spots on an experimental basis, according to the statement of intent. It appears that this step will fix responsibility more effectively.
"The engineers work at the ward level. So, a sub-engineer in one ward will normally not reach out to attend to a waterlogging problem in an adjacent ward. Hence, we are trying to deal with this issue in a scientific manner and appoint engineers for each catchment area rather than the ward," said SVR Srinivas, additional municipal commissioner.
Technically, a catchment area – also referred to as a watershed area – comprises of a ridge and valley pattern, where rain water flows to a point of lower elevation and into another water body like a lake, river or the sea.
In the proposed system, a sub-engineer would be responsible for clearing and desilting roadside and minor drains in the areas designated.
The drains will be mapped out ahead of the monsoon to help the engineer tackle the problem. More than one engineer would be appointed for the job in a larger area.
The engineers will not be given work related to the major nullahs.
Hindmata junction in Parel suffered serious water-logging during the monsoon last year, till it was discovered that the problem was exacerbated by cement barriers constructed inside a storm water drain were not taken down by the contractor after completing related work.
"We want to avert such incidents this year. Hope the new proposal works," Srinivas said.
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