Colonial Hydrants Fading from Mumbai’s Landscape
Mumbai’s colonial-era fire hydrants, once an iconic feature of the city’s urban landscape, are now on the verge of extinction. A stark decline in their numbers, alongside challenges posed by infrastructural developments, has led to the widespread disrepair of these hydrants. Today, only 15 per cent of the original hydrants are functional, a far cry from the more than 10,000 fire hydrants scattered across the city and its suburbs in the past.
Originally installed by the British, these hydrants played a vital role in firefighting, especially in congested bylanes where large fire engines struggled to navigate. However, with the city’s rapid growth and the ongoing development of infrastructure, nearly 9,500 of these hydrants are either buried beneath new roads and pavements or have fallen into disrepair, rendering them non-operational. The issue has exacerbated as the remaining hydrants often fail to deliver adequate water pressure, further diminishing their utility in emergencies. Despite the looming crisis, the Mumbai Fire Brigade has shifted its focus to using jumbo water tankers, alongside identifying 61 designated spots for emergency water pumping.
This strategy, though effective, does not eliminate the need for a functional network of fire hydrants, especially in densely populated areas where access remains limited. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has largely ignored demands to rejuvenate these colonial-era hydrants. A significant concern stems from the misuse of these hydrants by unscrupulous individuals, who have reportedly used them to fill water tankers at construction sites. As a result, BMC has taken a decision not to invest in reviving the system. In 2019, a state legislative committee urged the revival of the city’s once-thriving fire hydrant network. However, BMC’s response has been lacklustre, with no substantial efforts made to reinstate the hydrants or increase their number.
Instead, the focus has shifted to mandatory internal firefighting systems within buildings and community-driven emergency training. While the city has adapted to alternative firefighting methods, the disappearance of these colonial-era hydrants marks a concerning shift in Mumbai’s preparedness for large-scale fires. The need to preserve and restore these vital infrastructure elements has never been more pressing, but with a long-standing disregard for their importance, it remains to be seen if the authorities will take meaningful action before it’s too late.
