In response to the inundation caused by heavy rainfall on July 8, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has unveiled a strategic initiative to fortify Mumbai’s drainage system.
This decisive move follows a high-level meeting convened to address longstanding challenges in the city’s water management infrastructure. Led by senior BMC officials including the Additional Municipal Commissioner for the City and Eastern Suburbs, the meeting underscored the urgency of bolstering Mumbai’s resilience against torrential rains. Central to this initiative is the installation of advanced high-capacity drainage pumps across vulnerable zones such as Bhandup, Kurla, and Chunabhatti. These pumps, to be strategically positioned in areas prone to sluggish drainage, aim to mitigate future flooding risks significantly.
Emphasizing proactive measures, a senior civic authority highlighted that approximately 400 critical locations are already equipped with drainage pumps. The BMC’s proactive stance includes not only the deployment of additional pumping infrastructure but also a commitment to regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure operational readiness during monsoon emergencies. The BMC plans to augment its operational capabilities with enhanced resources including manpower, water pumping equipment, and towing vehicles. A crucial aspect of this upgrade involves integrating the drainage pumps with direct grid connections from local power distribution networks, with diesel generators on standby to guarantee uninterrupted service during power outages.
In collaboration with railway engineers, BMC officers will conduct joint inspections aimed at identifying and rectifying drainage deficiencies that contributed to the recent disruption of railway services due to water logging on tracks. “We are dedicated to expediting relief efforts and ensuring swift assistance to residents affected by such weather-related incidents,” affirmed a BMC official, underscoring the civic body’s commitment to safeguarding mumbaikars.
