Khar pumping station awaits spellof heavy shower for its trial run

The Guzder Band pumping station in Khar is eagerly waiting for the monsoon to arrive, as a trial run will only be possible with the availability of large amount of water to drain out.

A senior official from storm water drain (SWD) department said, "The pumping station is ready for operation as the heavy power generator has already been installed." He added that the pumping station needs a couple of trial runs to ensure smooth operation during monsoon.

The monsoon is expected to arrive in the city by June 10.

Last week, civic chief Ajoy Mehta had held a review meeting and asked the SWD department to operate the Guzder Band pumping station from June 9.

According to officials from SWD, the Rs 123 crore facility has seen fast paced activity over the last few days, to ensure it becomes ready before the monsoon sets in.

The pumping station can drain out around 6,000 litres of water per second and it will help reduce water logging in Khar (W), Bandra (W), Santa Cruz (W), Vile Parle (W), SNDT and Juhu areas by flushing out water.

It is the sixth pumping station to be made operational to reduce flooding in the city. The civic body has already been running five pumping stations — Love Grove at Worli, Haji Ali, Irla, Cleveland Bunder at Worli and Britannia Pumping station at Reay Road — to reduce flooding.

MEASURES TAKEN

The city's seven pumping stations were planned after the 2005 deluge in Mumbai.
Work of two more pumping stations, Mahul in Chembur and Mogra in Andheri has been stalled due to pending permissions.