BMC Plans Drop Pumping Station for Salt Lake
The Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is moving forward with plans to mitigate the chronic waterlogging issue that has plagued the Salt Lake area for years. The civic body has outlined a proposal to establish a drop pumping station near the Kestopur Canal as part of an extensive strategy to enhance the drainage outfall system and efficiently address stormwater runoff. The move aims to prevent the kind of waterlogging that often disrupts daily life during the monsoon season, particularly in Salt Lake’s low-lying areas.
According to BMC officials, the proposal is currently under detailed evaluation, with the goal of preparing a comprehensive project report. Presently, excess stormwater from Salt Lake is directed into the Kestopur Canal via multiple outfalls, but the drainage system remains unable to handle large volumes of water quickly enough during intense rainfall. The new pumping station will act as a crucial step in improving the system’s capacity, helping to discharge excess water more effectively. Under the plan, stormwater will be routed first to a sewage treatment plant (STP) where it will undergo purification before being released into the canal. This not only addresses waterlogging but also ensures that the water discharged into the canal is cleaner and less polluting.
Debraj Chakraborty, the BMC’s Member of the Mayor-in-Council for Waste Management and Drainage, explained that the project’s scope also includes an innovative proposal to intercept all the outfalls, allowing for a simultaneous drainage process. This coordinated effort is expected to prevent waterlogging before it can take root, significantly reducing the disruption caused by excess rainfall.
The state’s Public Works Department (PWD) is simultaneously working on a complementary set of solutions to curb waterlogging in areas off VIP Road. Four additional pumping stations are being planned at strategic locations to ensure that stormwater is quickly drained into the Bagjola Canal, with a particular focus on preventing flooding at key intersections like the Haldiram crossing.
The problem of waterlogging has long been a challenge for Kolkata, particularly in densely populated areas such as Salt Lake, where a combination of poorly maintained drainage systems and increasing urbanisation exacerbate the issue. While the new pumping station promises to alleviate some of these difficulties, questions remain about the long-term sustainability of the city’s drainage infrastructure, especially considering the increasingly erratic weather patterns due to climate change.
For Salt Lake residents, the new initiative from the BMC is a glimmer of hope after years of coping with the inconvenience of flooded streets and compromised public health during the monsoon season.
The success of this project will depend on its timely implementation and the quality of coordination between local and state authorities, but it also serves as a critical example of how cities can respond to the pressing need for climate-resilient infrastructure. By integrating modern technologies like drop pumping stations and improving waste management processes, the BMC’s efforts could set a model for other urban areas across India facing similar waterlogging challenges.
