The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is expecting environment clearances for the Gazdarbandh (in Santacruz) and Mahul (in Chembur) pumping stations soon, following which the civic body will be able to start work on both the pumping stations. The civic body also plans to evict 24,000 slum dwellers who reside next to drains in an effort to widen major and minor drains to augment their capacity for flood water intake.

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Municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta said that the BMC is working rigorously on widening and deepening major and minor drains in the city to increase the intake capacity of the drains. "The civic body will evict 14,000 slum dwellers from the sides of major drains and 10,000 slum dwellers from the sides of minor drains. The corporation will rehabilitate these slum dwellers. However, this is one of the biggest challenges that the civic administration is facing," said Mehta.

Gazdarbandh Pumping Station — which needs environmental clearance and permission for cutting mangroves — will give relief to residents of Santacruz, Khar, Bandra and surrounding areas. Mahul Pumping Station — which is awaiting a nod from the environment ministry for construction on salt pan land and also needs a go-ahead from MCZMA — will give relief to areas around Chembur, Mankhurd, Govandi, Trombay and surrounding areas.

A total of eight pumping stations have been planned by the BMC under the ambitious BRIMSTOWAD project. With Britannia Pumping Station commissioned on Wednesday, the city now has five operational pumping stations, including Haji Ali, Love Grove, Irla and Cleveland pumping stations, to address water-logging problems in different areas of the city and suburbs. Gazdarbandh and Mahul pumping stations are lined up, while Mogra Pumping Station in Versova has been facing several hurdles so far.

Mapping City Drains

Drains with width of 1.5km & above — 250kmDrains with width below 1.5km — 450kmBox drains — 600kmRoadside drains — 2000kmWater outfall — 175 spots