CM sets deadline for monsoon resistance

Arguments between Mayor Shubha Raul and Metropolitan Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad broke out again at the meeting,Mantralaya sources said. Chavan asked the two agencies to bury their differences and then set the deadline.

The battle between the two agencies was over the BMC allegation that the arterial 25-km Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Road,on which MMRDA had done improvements,was handed over to the BMC very late. Raul said that during an inspection,she found 11 culverts clogged by utility cables and pipes,which could prevent flow of rainwater during monsoon.

Raul had last week inspected roads that had been in the possession of the MMRDA until recently. The MMRDA has been working on improvement of 18 road corridors,including the Eastern and Western Express Highways. Twelve of them were handed back to the BMC last year. 

After the CM set the deadline,Raul said,“Since the directives have come from the CM,we will have to fix the problem. It will be almost impossible to shift the utility cables in such a short period but we will try our best,” she said.

She added that,as there were 25 agencies having cables and pipelines underground,it would be difficult to hold a meeting with them and lift the cables from the culverts in such a short span. 

The BMC said that 55 per cent of the work to make the city rain-ready was over and the remaining would be completed before the deadline. Dug up portions of the roads will be covered and control rooms and emergency centres set up for monsoon-related complaints. The centers will be functional from May 20 onwards,BMC officials said.

The BMC,however,warned that in case of very heavy rain,the city may be flooded again.

Meanwhile,the India Meteorological Department informed the CM that equipment for setting up the Doppler Weather Radar,for better prediction of rains,had arrived and renovation work at Archana Building in Navy Colony was under way to fix the equipment.

IMD officials said the antenna would be installed before the monsoon arrives and that integration of the radar system was possible even after it arrives. The navy has assured to complete the work by May 31. Installation of the radar may take about a month. Trials will run for about two-three weeks before it is ready for regular observations. 

STATUS REPOR
Troads: Many flooding-prone streets still clogged; CM asks two agencies to complete pre-monsoon work by May 20. BMC says 55 per cent work done,rest to be complete by deadline; control rooms,emergency centres to be functional

Doppler Radar: Equipment arrived May 7,terrace modification work in progress,antenna can be installed before monsoon (predicted June 30). Meteorological dept sets May 20 for handing over terrace to radar supplier. Installation may take a month,difficulties expected if rains heavy and wind strong. Test trails for about 2-3 weeks before radar can be commissioned

Railway drains: 43 spots total,18 cleaned and rest will be cleared by May 25 prediction: City will see flooding again if rainfall exceeds 300 mm. Kranti Nagar Colony set to suffer with work on Milan Subway not yet complete and debate raging over Shraddhanand Nallah at the airport. CM wants pumps set up to remove water