There will be floods: BMC warning for Parel a month before monsoon Survey shows due to technical problems, apart from cleaning drains there's little BMC can do to prevent flooding

  Though the BMC has spent crores of rupees in preparation to tackle the monsoon this year, and say that no flooding will occur at most parts of the city, there's bad news in store for residents of Parel and, particularly, Hindmata areas. 

    A survey conducted by Assistant Municipal Commissioner (F South) Bhagshree Kapse - whose jurisdiction includes Lalbaug and Parel - reveals that this year too will be no different, and that flooding is bound to occur in these areas. 

    Kapse told Mumbai Mirror, "This will be the first monsoon since I took charge of this ward. To prepare ourselves, members of my disaster team conducted a study of the area's floodprone spots. What we found was that, as things stand, it is not possible to stop flooding at the six chronic flood-prone spots in the ward, including the two major ones at Hindmata and Jagannath Bhatankar Marg. 

    "I don't simply want to say that we are prepared and that this year there will be no flooding in my jurisdiction. The study shows that due to some technical problems, we just cannot prevent flooding as of now. All we can do is clean the storm water drains, but that alone will not stop flooding." 

    Given the situation, when asked what she intends doing to tackle floods in the areas, Kapse said, "A four-member team, including myself, has been formed to deal with the situation. We will be on call 24 hours to cope with emergencies. At some spots we will install pumping machines to divert flood water to another drainage line." 

    Kapse further said that the situation will remain the same until a new pumping station is built. "A pumping station is to come up near BPT Colony at Reay Road. We have received the NOC, but it will take at least another year for the pumping station to be built and begin functioning," she added. 

REASONS FOR WATERLOGGING 

Saucer type topography: There is a one metre difference of ground level between Dr B A Road, G D Ambekar Marg and the stretch between Jerbai Wadia Road up to MMGS Marg. Due to this 'saucer type topography', surface water of the entire area gets 

accumulated at Hindmata junction. 

Inadequate size of drains: The existing drain network was designed hundreds of years ago. Because of the vast development since then, and concretization of roads in recent years, seepage of water has decreased drastically. This results in accumulation of water at the 'saucer' portion. 

Inadequate capacity: As per the BRIMSTOWAD report, the required drain volume capacity should be 8 sq mts. What exist now is only of 3.08 sq mts. 

Length of drain network: Discharge of Hindmata flood water takes place near the Britannia Outfall at Reay Road, a distance of 6.80 km from its feeding point. Due to the distance, the flow of water is slowed down and discharge of flood water is delayed. 

High tides: Mumbai being an island city, high tides play an important part and affects disposal of flood water into the sea. 

Tide effect on drain network: 

Due to non-availability of nearby exit points or pumping arrangements, the tide effect is seen upto a distance of 3 km.

Water-logging at Parel last year