In a bid to prevent waterlogging in Mumbai during the monsoon season this year, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) stated that it will install at least 481 dewatering pumps in several low-lying areas across the city. The corporation stated that the pumps will have a high dewatering capacity and will remain functional even when emergencies arise, PTI reported.
"An operator and a helper will be deputed to operate the pumps and civic engineers at ward levels will monitor the operation," the BMC stated in its release issued on Tuesday.
As per the BMC, when Mumbai receives 55 mm per hour of rainfall along with high tide during the same period the low-lying areas get waterlogged. Therefore, the civic body identifies such low-lying locations and deploys pumps there every year to pump out the rainwater.
Out of the 481 pumps that the civic body has announced to install this year, 124 pumps will be put up in the eastern suburbs, 166 in the western suburbs, and 187 will be put up in the island city, BMC stated.
Measures Taken By BMC During Previous Years
As per the BMC, it installed 380 pumps initially but added 112 more later last year. In 2022, the civic body deployed 380 pumps but later added 55 more as per the demand. This year, the BMC has decided to initially install 481 pumps across all 25 wards ahead of the monsoon season.
In 2022, the BMC also installed flood guages with sensors worth Rs 2.32 crore at 100 locations in the city to measure waterlogging levels across Mumbai. In the first phase, the instruments were installed at 25 flooding spots followed by installation of instruments at 75 different spots in the next phase.
The gauges alerted the civic body's storm watern drain and disaster management cell in case the water levels rose. It also enabled the civic authorities to tackle flooding and plan effectively in specific areas.
ALSO READ: ED Likely To Move Court As Shajahan Sheikh Not Handed Over To CBI By Bengal Govt