Mumbai rains: Crores of rupees go down drain, no respite from waterlogging

The BMC had made a plan to improve the drainage system in the city and has, so far, spent around Rs 500 crores on it. However, considering the current situation and the action plan, the major chronic spots of the city will not be flood-free.

According to the BMC's official data, there was 225 flooding spot after the monsoon in 2017. Last year the civic body found 48 new flooding spots. The civic body claimed they have tackled around 200 spots out of which some 50 spots were because of temporary issue. But still, there are 70 major and chronic spots where work is incomplete or cannot be completed for various reasons.

King's Circle is one of the most chronic flood spots. But as per the BMC official, they can't put a big drain in the area as there is a huge water pipeline. Another issue is with Andheri Subway. The Mogra nullah is very small and cannot take water flow at the time of heavy rain. "The nullah becomes narrower under the subway due to space crunch. There was a plan to lay another pipeline and even work was started but local people opposed it. Even the Mogra pumping station is still on the paper which will help to drain out water more quickly," said an officer from the BMC K West ward office. This is more or less applied to other sub-ways like Khar subway, Milan Subway, Malad Subway. They are below the sea-level. BMC has provided dewatering pumps, but at the time of heavy flood the water level increases rapidly and pumps cannot work.

The civic body planned three-stage project for Hindmata of which one stage is completed. But the other two stages are behind schedule and find difficulties to complete due to various permissions. Storm Water Department is working to improving the box drain system at some of the area across the city.

"The work hasn't completed before the monsoon. We are trying to complete it before next monsoon," said one of the officers from BMC.