Install dewatering pumps 414 low-lying areas: Bhushan Gagrani

Indian Express

7 days ago

Two days after the southwest monsoon marked an early arrival in Mumbai — the earliest recorded onset in at least the past 75 years — pounding the city with over 200 mm of rainfall, municipal commissioner and state-appointed administrator Bhushan Gagrani on Wednesday ordered immediate installation of dewatering pumps in as many as 414 low-lying areas. Besides, Gagrani also directed that all flood-control gates at the pumping stations in Haji Ali, Britannia and Lovegrove should be immediately checked so that the city's infrastructure is ready for any flood-like situation during the monsoon.
He also instructed civic officials to immediately re-evaluate the existing flood-control mechanisms to make sure there is no flash flooding. 'Monsoon has arrived in Mumbai a fortnight earlier than usual, even though pre-monsoon works are going on at a fast pace. As a result, cleaning of drains, roads and other works have been affected. However, keeping in mind civic services, monsoon measures should be improved according to the situation and expedited,' he said.
Gagrani's instructions came following a joint debriefing session on Wednesday, where civic officials along with the Mumbai police briefed the state government about the May 26 flooding.
Gagrani said besides installing dewatering pumps, the BMC has also issued Letter of Approval (LoA) for acquiring 10 vehicle-mounted pumps, which will be deployed within the next eight days. 'These vehicles will be deployed to tackle flash floods in areas not equipped with dewatering pumps,' said an official.
Gagrani also instructed that remaining desilting work should be completed within the next eight days and that all roads should be cleared of barricades and trenches within the next 24 hours.
IMD downgrades forecast
A day after issuing a yellow alert for Mumbai indicating moderate to heavy spell of rainfall till May 30 (Friday) morning, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday downgraded it. In its five day forecast issued on Wednesday afternoon the IMD said a yellow alert will be in place only till Thursday morning, following which no alert for heavy rains have been issued.
The weather bureau, however, said light to moderate spell of rainfall will continue in the city till June 1.
Meanwhile, IMD's Santacruz observatory recorded 1 mm of rainfall till 5.30 pm on Wednesday, while the coastal observatory at Colaba recorded 17 mm of rains.
On Wednesday afternoon moderate rainfall lashed several parts of island city and suburbs; 36 mm rain was recorded at Malad, followed by 32 mm at Kanjurmarg, and 21 mm at Mulund.