Ahead of the monsoon, the BMC had installed 400 plus dewatering pumps in Mumbai. (File Photo)
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed setting up 20 flood gates at multiple locations in the island city as well as in the suburban belt of Mumbai to abate flash floods.
A floodgate is a gate that controls the flow of water, often found in dams, rivers, or flood control systems. These gates either open vertically or horizontally to prevent heavy inflow of water within a given time especially during high tides. During low tides, the gates are usually opened since there is no risk of heavy inflow.
You’ve Read Your Free Stories For Now
Sign up and keep reading more stories that matter to you.
Once installed, these floodgates will stop excessive rainwater from entering the city during a high tide. In the meantime, dewatering pumps will be used to channelise the accumulated water to holding tanks, outfalls or water bodies.
These will be additional floodgates to the existing 30 plus gates that are already in operation in multiple low-lying areas of the city. According to civic officials of the Storm Water Department (SWD), a survey has been initiated which is identifying some of the feasible locations where these gates could be set up. The BMC’s move comes after the rains on May 26 this year, which led to flash flooding across Mumbai, bringing the city to a standstill. On that day, Mumbai recorded 250mm of rainfall within three hours.
Following the rains, the BMC had discovered 80 new flooding spots primarily in areas such as Colaba, JJ Flyover and Metro Junction.
“These new floodgates will be installed at some of the key locations such as Worli, Colaba, Mahim and Dharavi. The places where there is no floodgate present right now, sea water flows inside easily during high tides,” an official told the Indian Express.
Ahead of the monsoon, the BMC had installed 400 plus dewatering pumps in Mumbai. However, after the monsoon made its arrival, civic authorities increased the number of pumps to 540 to allow seamless discharge of water.
Story continues below this ad
Civic officials said that installation of floodgates will bring a permanent resolution to this matter.
“At present we are carrying out a survey to locate intertidal points where these gates could be installed. Alongside the gates, we will also install pumps to be able to channel out surplus water either to a holding tank or to the sea in order to avoid waterlogging within the city,” the official said.
Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India.
Expertise & Authority
Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai.
Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in:
Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting.
City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region.
Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis:
National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019.
State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019.
Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis.
Experience
Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies:
Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014).
Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express.
Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More
