BMC gets approval from NTCL to lay pipeline under Tata Mills compound for flood mitigation project

The roads and railway traffic is often disrupted due to heavy rains in Mumbai, and keeping the same in mind, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been working on a plan aimed at providing relief to Mumbaikars. 

Every year during the monsoons, the citizens suffer a lot due to water logging across several areas in Mumbai. To help reduce the same and tackle the crisis, the BMC has decided to construct three underground tanks as a part of the flood mitigation project. However, the departments had to face several obstacles to get the clearance near the Tata Mills' locality in the Hindmata area. Experts state that this is one of the important projects undertaken by the BMC as it will help in avoiding water-logging across key areas like Dadar, Prabhadevi, Hindmata, Parel, and others

The central government has approved the proposal to allow the work of this underground project and has sent a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to the municipality. It is understood that the Centre had informed the High Court on Thursday, May 27, 2021, regarding the required amount of compensation. In addition, the corporation had promised to complete the process of agreement, payment of compensation and submission of the necessary information on Friday, May 28, 2021.

As per reports, the three underground rainwater channels will be 650 meters in length and 1,200 mm diameter, and are being laid to carry the stored water to these tanks. The municipality had sought permission for the project. The proposed work under the ground of Tata Mills is managed by the jurisdiction of NTCL. However, Tata Mills was issued a notice under Section 30 of the Disaster Management Act for not getting permission in time. Moreover, the local people's representatives broke into the premises of Tata Mills and raised concerns regarding the same. This was escalated to the court which further directed the Centre to take a decision before May 26, 2021. 

Against that background, the hearing was held on Thursday, May 27, 2021, before the holiday bench headed by Justice RD Dhanuka and Justice Madhav Jamdar; and the proposal has been approved by the Centre.