Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has begun utilising drones to survey the city’s outfall canals, aiming to tackle encroachments and identify heavily silted areas requiring urgent dredging. This marks the first instance of drone technology being employed for such a purpose in the city.
On Friday, a team from the KMC’s sewerage and drainage department conducted a comprehensive survey of the Guniagachi, Suti, and Intercepting canals along the E M Bypass. These canals are crucial for carrying stormwater from extensive parts of South Kolkata and surrounding neighbourhoods. To mitigate waterlogging in areas such as Jodhpur Park, Lake Gardens, Anwar Shah Road, and Golf Green, as well as Mukundapur, Madurdaha, Kalikapur, Anandapur, Kasba, and Garfa, the KMC has collaborated with the state irrigation department. The partnership aims to monitor the dredging of the vital Tollygunge-Panchannagram and Intercepting canals.
The initiative follows a meeting held nearly a month ago between officials from the civic sewerage and drainage department and the state irrigation department. The discussions centred on the challenges posed by illegal settlements along canal banks, which hinder effective dredging. The persistent presence of silt in these canals has been a significant factor contributing to flooding and waterlogging. The chair of the meeting instructed the irrigation department’s chief engineer to clear these encroachments, enabling the necessary dredging operations and allowing the civic drainage wing to efficiently manage stormwater during heavy rains.
The member of the mayor-in-council overseeing the KMC sewerage and drainage department highlighted the critical condition of several outfall canals, including Manikhali, Begore, Churial, Beliaghata, Intercepting, and Suti canals. Despite ongoing updates to the drainage network, the benefits remain unrealised until these canals are dredged and prepared to handle large volumes of stormwater. The official stressed the importance of this initiative in addressing the severe waterlogging that affects Behala, Joka, and other areas during monsoon seasons.
According to civic officials, the diminished water-bearing capacity of major canals due to siltation has led to recurrent inundation. The heavily silted Beliaghata and Intercepting canals, in particular, exacerbate flooding in South Kolkata and its adjacent neighbourhoods along the E M Bypass. The KMC official noted, “The silted intercepting canals are largely responsible for the severe waterlogging in South Kolkata and areas like Kasba, Garfa, and Kalikapur.” Residents of Beliaghata and nearby areas face regular inundation each monsoon due to the silted canals.
The use of drone technology represents a significant step forward in urban infrastructure management, enabling more precise and efficient monitoring and maintenance of critical drainage systems. This initiative is expected to enhance the city’s resilience to monsoon-related waterlogging and improve the quality of life for its residents.
