Explain delay in setting up Santacruz pumping stn: HC

MUMBAI:THE Bombay high court (HC) on Thursday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to explain the inordinate delay in setting up a storm water pumping station at Gazdarban in Santacruz (West).

The pumping station is crucial to preventing flooding in western suburbs.

A division bench of justice RM Savant and justice KK Sonawane was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Atal Dubey raising concerns over non-completion of the Brihanmumbai Stormwater Disposal System (BRIMSTOWAD) project works, which is resulting in repeated flooding of several areas in the city.

The PIL was filed in the wake of floods of June 2016 after which, the city had come to a standstill.

The directive was issued after Dubey’s counsel, advocate Shailesh Naidu said that several works contemplated under BRIMSTOWAD projects have not even started. He said in order to prevent flooding during monsoon, initially, eight storm water pumping stations were proposed, but three crucial projects are yet to see the light of the day – Gazdarban, Mahul and Mogra.

Naidu further said the proposed storm water pumping station at Gazdarban was crucial in preventing flooding of Santacruz, Khar and Vile Parle station areas.

He said, in 2015, BMC had stated the project was 52% complete and would be commissioned by June 2017. “We are in August 2018 and BMC is still on 52%,” he complained.

The court also directed the India Metrological Department (IMD) to explain as to why Doppler weather radar had not yet been installed, although the BMC had given them the land in November 2016.

Advocate Parag Vyas, who represented IMD, told the bench that the work on installation of the radar was in progress, but the bench directed him to file an affidavit stating the progress made.