Kolkata: The residents of Behala and neighbourhoods off the EM Bypass are bracing for yet another monsoon plagued by waterlogging, as the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) struggles to complete crucial drainage upgrade projects. Despite ongoing efforts under the Kolkata Environment and Infrastructure Improvement Project (KEIIP), many areas remain vulnerable to flooding.
Several parts of Behala continue to be disrupted by incomplete drainage works, with trenches and unfinished systems contributing to the residents’ frustration. The delay in completing these projects is causing significant inconvenience, with no immediate respite in sight. A KMC official highlighted the precarious situation in areas such as Mukundapur, Nayabad, Madurdaha, Kasba, Garfa, Tiljala, Topsia, Beliaghata, and Kadapara, which are all located off the EM Bypass. “Residents of these areas are likely to face waterlogging this monsoon as well. The absence of a proper drainage network, coupled with pending proposals for desilting in some Bypass areas awaiting approval from Kolkata traffic police, means we cannot prevent flooding during the rainy season,” said the official.
The KMC’s sewerage and drainage department is equally concerned about neighbourhoods in three borough areas that are at risk of inundation due to unfinished drainage upgrades. “Residents in Thakurpukur, Motilal Gupta Road, Kalipada Mukherjee Road, Sarsuna, Shakuntala Park, and Barisha in wards 123 to 128 are likely to face significant waterlogging issues this monsoon,” noted another civic official. Residents have voiced their dissatisfaction with the prolonged delays. A resident of Motilal Gupta Road, who works at a private firm, expressed his frustration over the seemingly never-ending drainage upgrade project. “We suffer every monsoon as the project drags on indefinitely. Last year, rainwater entered my ground floor flat. We are keeping our fingers crossed this year,” he lamented.
Another resident, employed as a paramedical staff member, shared her disappointment with the ongoing delays. “Every year, we are promised that waterlogging will be resolved by the next year. However, the wait keeps getting longer. We are unsure of what to expect this year,” said Sur.
A KMC drainage department official acknowledged that residents of parts of Behala and the EM Bypass would need to wait another year for relief from waterlogging. “The drainage upgrade work in several areas of Behala and the EM Bypass is not yet complete. We are mobilising portable pumps and will attempt to mitigate the impact of downpours by flushing out stormwater. However, these efforts will take time,” stated the official.
In the interim, the KMC’s attempts to address waterlogging through temporary measures like portable pumps offer only limited relief. As the monsoon season approaches, residents remain sceptical about the effectiveness of these measures and continue to await a permanent solution. The delays in completing the drainage upgrade projects underscore the challenges faced by urban infrastructure development in Kolkata. The persistent waterlogging issues not only disrupt daily life but also pose significant health risks and economic burdens on the affected communities. As the city grapples with these challenges, the demand for efficient and timely infrastructure development becomes increasingly urgent.
