Mumbai: BMC project to construct underground rainwater storage tanks runs into trouble

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)'s Rs 130 crore project to build the city's first underground rainwater harvesting tank and drainage near Hindmata after the Bombay High Court stayed the project is expected to alleviate flooding in flood-hit areas like Hindmata, Parel, Prabhadevi, and Dadar. The Civil Body had set a target of completing the project by June 2021. 

 

However, the work was slowed down due to strong opposition from BJP leaders and employees. A 1,200 mm diameter rainwater drainage system was to be constructed as a pilot project. BMC officials said the project would be extended to other areas depending on the effectiveness of the monsoon. Work has been started to drain 650 m long and 1200 mm wide groundwater to carry the water recorded in Hinduism to these tanks.

 

Officials said Hindmatha was one of the worst affected areas during the monsoon season. Sometimes, the water level collected in this area can go up to four and a half feet and obstruct the movement of vehicles. Under the project, the space below the Hindmata flyover will be used to install pumps and water storage tanks. From the collection point, water will be transported to both storage tanks through a newly installed pipeline network with the help of pumps.

 

After high tide, the stored water is pumped back through the pipelines. The low-lying region of Hindmata receives more than 25 mm of rain in an hour, causing floods every monsoon. The saucer-shaped area is submerged as water from Parel, Lalbagh and Dadar flow into Hinduism.

 

To solve this problem, BMC is working to increase the current capacity from 25 mm per hour to a drainage capacity of 50 mm per hour. The civic organization plans to divert this water through increased stormwater drains, which will take it directly to the Britannia pumping station. Currently, water from three areas is flowing into Hinduism, a pipeline under Babasaheb Ambedkar Road leads to the Britannia pumping station. In a statement released in February 2020, BMC claimed that it had completed 75% to 90% of the stormwater drainage increase on several roads in the area.