The BMC confirmed that desilting of road-side drains and minor nullahs is lagging 15 to 20 per cent behind schedule, but expects to pick up pace in the next 15 days.
After scanning Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) monsoon preparedness for areas in the western suburbs, DNA now takes look at locations prone to severe water logging in the eastern suburbs, the status of desilting work, etc. The BMC confirmed that desilting of road-side drains and minor nullahs is lagging 15 to 20 per cent behind schedule, but expects to pick up pace in the next 15 days.
In N ward and S ward, which cover Vidyavihar, Ghatkopar, Kanjurmarg, and Bhandup. The major approach road after Eastern Express Highway (EEH) is the Lalbahadur Shastri Road (LBS Road), which stretches from Sion to Mulund. Although the BMC and the Public Works Department (PWD) succeeded in preventing severe water logging on EEH to some extent, it failed to do so for the LBS Road. Locations like Dreams Mall upto Dena Bank in Bhandup, Gandhi Nagar junction near R-city Mall, Gangawadi, Parksite, and some spots near Vidyavihar and Ghatkopar railway station witnesses water logging every monsoon.
Half cleaned nullahs and topography are the main causes for flooding there.. Locations like Gandhi Nagar junction are saucer-shaped and rain water flows down from the hills in Ghatkopar and Bhandup to these spots, which collect over there due to clogged drains.
Deputy Municipal Commissioner, Ranjit Dhakane, said, "Sixty per cent of the overall desilting work has been done, and 40 per cent work on minor nullahs and road-side drains is complete. I got a status report on Monday and we expect to pick pace in the next 15 days. Desilting on EEH is in process."
"During last year's August 29 deluge, there was water up to my waist. We literally pushed 15-20 cars that broke down due to water logging. The two-wheelers in police custody were almost floating," said a traffic police deployed in Gandhi Nagar police chowkie in Kanjumarg.
"We had to wait till the next morning for the BMC to remove the drain covers so that the water could recede," he said.
Activist Anil Galgali said, "Around 500 metre from Dreams Mall in Bhandup to Ghatkopar gets immersed in four to six feet of water during heavy rains. LBS Road is perennially congested due to the presence of multi-national companies in the area, and Thane-bound cars moving from Sion and Kurla. The railway services also go for a toss during heavy rains, leaving citizen with no option but to wait for the water to recede."
OFFICIAL SPEAK
We do not have any major water logging spot as such in zone 6. We are collaborating with the PWD for desilting work on EEH and with the Railways for desilting the 20 culverts in their premises.
—Ranjit Dhakane, Deputy Municipal Comissioner, BMC
ACTIVIST SPEAK
Water logging at Gandhi Nagar junction and near Dreams Mall is accompanied by 1 to 2 km traffic jam on LBS Road. LBS is a crucial road in the eastern suburbs and sees heavy vehicular traffic year round. The ongoing road work there will add to the traffic woes this monsoon.
—Anil Galgali, Activist
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