Just a cloudburst away Storm water disposal still a work in progress
THE PROJECT INCLUDED CONSTRUCTING EIGHT PUMPING STATIONS INCREASING CARRYING CAPACITY OF THE CENTURY-OLD DRAINS IN THE CITY
MUMBAI: Eleven years, two missed deadlines and a cost escalation of Rs2,800 crore — this is the woeful tale of the Brihanmumbai Storm Water Disposal Project (Brimstowad).
After the 2005 deluge, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) re-initiated the much-delayed project, aimed at improving the mechanism to flush out floodwater faster in case of heavy rain. Conceived in 1993, the project did not become a priority until large parts of the city went under on 26 July, 2005.
The project included constructing eight pumping stations and 58 upgradation works to increase the carrying capacity of the century-old drains in the city. However, the project has missed two deadlines – 2011 and 2015. The cost of the project has also escalated from Rs1,200 crore to Rs4,000 crore.
Out of fear of a backlash, the BMC has not even set a new deadline for the project.
Of these 58 works, 28 have been completed, 27 are still in progress, while the BMC is yet to invite tenders for three projects. Officials have cited encroachment as a major hurdle for the delay in the overhaul. These figures were recently presented to civic chief Ajoy Mehta, who has ordered immediate evacuation of the 13,498 structures, starting October 1.
Officials said they plan to complete the evacuation process by the year-end. Currently, the carrying capacity of the drains in the city is 25mm rainfall an hour; Brimstowad aims to increase this to 50mm an hour.
Opposition leaders in the BMC have blamed the administrations lackadaisical attitude towards the project. Sandip Deshpande MNS corporator said, “The plan ning is itself flawed. The project is aimed at reducing flooding in the city. Tell me one place where it has reduced.”
Of the eight pumping sta tions, Haji Ali, Lovegrove and Cleveland at Worli and Irla in Juhu are functional. The Britannia pumping station mooted to prevent inunda tion at Hindmata, Lalbaug Kalachowkie and Byculla, was recently inaugurated. With the areas being chronic water logging spots, the 10 pumps at Britannia have the capacity to flush out 6,000 litres per second officials said.
The Guzdarband pumping sta tion at Santacruz is expected to be completed by May 2017. However work on Mahul and Mogra pump ing stations is yet to start.
Laxman Vhatkar, chief engi neer of the SWD department said the tenders for Mahul and Mogra are ready for the past four years, but the projects have been stuck owing to land acquisition He also said the BMC alone can not be blamed for the delay in the project. “The land belongs to the Central government Without clearance, we cannot start work.”