Will non working pumping stations clog city again this monsoon?

26 July 2005 was the day no Mumbaikar will forget. This was the day that Mumbaikars faced the deadly deluge that flooded a major part of the city for over 24 hours. The soul searching started soon after. Littering the city with plastic waste emerged a major culprit. The BMC also bore the brunt of accusation, since a whopping Rs 500 crore that was to be spent in sprucing up pumping stations across the city, had apparently gone down the drain. The Opposition cornered the Shiv Sena in the BMC recently, wanting to know where all that money had gone as the issue of waterlogging continues to plague the metropolis every monsoon.

BMC woke up after two years
The Lovegrove and Cleveland pumping stations became operational only in 2015 after a delay of two years from the proposed deadline, resulting in the contractor being prosecuted and charged a fine of Rs. 5.45 crore and Rs. 3.89 crore respectively.

Rs 100 crore down the drain
“In 2016, Britannia pumping station was built to solve the water logging woes in the vicinity of Hindmata area which is a low lying area. However, in the last three years, water flooded the area during monsoon.  55 additional pumps were installed. However, Rs. 100 crore were spent and still, water logging problem was not solved. Henceforth, the BMC should give in writing that there will be no water logging. Also, they should take action against contractors who don't do their work,” says Manoj Kotak, BJP's leader in the BMC.

An inquiry should be set up
Opposition leader in the BEST Ravi Raja has demanded that the BMC should institute an inquiry into the issue. “Henceforth, the contractor who delays the work should be prosecuted." However, leader of the house Yashwant Jadhav supported BMC and congratulated the civic efforts. He advised that BMC's ruling party should look into the matter.

BMC waits for legal department's feedback
The BMC's additional commissioner Vijay Singhal said that there was a delay in taking feedback from law department and so no action was taken against the guilty contractors. He also denied speaking on water clogging issues.

Mahul pumping station is needed in Sion
In Mumbai, Sion, Antop Hill, Pratiksha Nagar are the areas where water gets clogged a lot. But nothing is being done blames opposition leader Ravi Raja. He suggested that the Mahul pumping station will help in clearing the water in these areas.