400-crore BMC plan to tackle flooding zones

Mumbai: In a bid to tackle the growing sewage problems in the western suburbs, the BMC is all set to unveil its Rs-400 crore project proposal under the Mumbai Sewage Disposal Project Stage II for Zone 5 (Malad, Borivli, Dahisar). By preventing theoverflowof sewage in low-lying areas, the project aims to improve the condition of 48chronicflooding spots. 

    Additional municipal commissioner (projects)Rajiv Jalota said, "The population density in this region is growing. We need to treat the sewage generated from these areas." Congress corporator Rajendraprasad Chaube said, "This project is going to change the face of the entire area. It will tackle chronicflooding spots." 
    The civic body has planned a slew of measures for the project.A new1,200 mm sewer line willbelaidfrom thejunction of SN Dube Marg and Western Express Highway to Dahisar bridge. The proposed sewer linewillbeconnectedto a 1,800 mm sewer lineon thewestside of the WEH. 
    The BMC proposes to lay another 1,800 mm diameter sewer line from Kandarpada junction at Link road to Vallabh Nagar pumping station. This part of the project is expected to improve chronic flooding spots atAvdhutNagar, Vaishali Nagar and Dahisar check naka. 
    A civic official said, "Increasing the capacity of sewer lines is not enough. We need to look at pumping stations as well as the outfall. This project addresses allsuchconcerns." 
    The BMC aims to upgrade thecapacity of theVallabhNa- gar pumping station. The capacity of the existing sewer lineof 1,800 mm diameter from Don Bosco School, Borivli, to the Malad pumping station will be increased to 2,200 mm diameter on a priority basis. Theexisting sewagetreatment plant at Malad will be also be upgraded. Currently, the existing plant only performs preliminary treatment of the wastewater,whichinvolves removing grit and rubbish from the sewage. This plant is set to be upgraded to an advanced Waste Water TreatmentPlant. 
    Earlier, sewage from the Malad pumping station usedto be discharged into the Malad creek. After the plant's upgradation, the sewage will be discharged 4 km into the Arabian Sea through the Erangal outfall. Water currents near Erangal outfall runs north to south which will help dilute the wastewater which aidsthe natural processof purification. 
    But activists are skeptical. Activist Navin Pandya said, "The city is going from bad to worse. None of the BMC projectshavehad a positiveeffect." 
    (With inputs from JohanFleury) 
Fact Check 
STATUS OF PROJECT | 
Tenders invited 
COMPLETION YEAR | 2015-16 
EXPECTED TO BEGIN | 
JANUARY 2012 
FLOODING SPOTS | 48 (Malad, Dahisar, Borivli and Kandivli) 
WORK INCLUDES | Increasing capacity of sewer lines and pumping stations, installing a waste water treatment plant and improving channel for the outfall