New BMC chief conducts his first pre-monsoon preparedness survey

As part of this visit, Gagrani visited low lying areas of Chembur, Ghatkopar, Bhandup and Nahur in the eastern suburbs. The pre-monsoon desilting work in Mumbai has started from April 1.

The process of desilting refers to the removal of silt, muck and sediments which gets deposited in the beds of nullahs, canals and rivers in Mumbai. These sediments slow down the force of water flowing through the water bodies which in turn results in overflowing during heavy rain that leads to water-logging in the city.

पूर्व उपनगरांतील पावसाळा पूर्व कामांच्या पाहणी दौऱ्यातील पुढील टप्प्यात, बृहन्मुंबई महानगरपालिका आयुक्त तथा प्रशासक श्री. भूषण गगराणी यांनी एन विभागात लक्ष्मी बाग नाला, एस विभागातील एपीआय नाला, वीर सावरकर मार्गावरील उषा नगर नाला, गोरेगाव-मुलुंड जोड रस्ता जंक्शन वर भांडुपनजीक… pic.twitter.com/kFcIIwqHYH

— माझी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) April 9, 2024

Civic officials said that so far 54.57 metric tonnes (MT) of silt has been removed from the Mithi River so far. In total, the BMC aims to remove 13.1 crore MT of sludge from all the drains, canals and rivers in Mumbai.

“The commissioner has given a strict deadline to complete the desilting work by May 31, so that during the time monsoon arrives the water bodies remain free from floating waste due to which water can pass very smoothly,” an official said on Tuesday.

During the visit, Gagrani had instructed civic authorities for constructing retaining walls and encroachments between Bhandup and Nahur railway lines, which are also falling in the alignment of the Goregaon Mulund Link Road (GMLR).

Civic officials said that alongside desilting the water bodies, high-speed dewatering pumps have also been set up in more than 200 locations across the city. The BMC has also written to multiple planning agencies like MMRDA, PWD and Railways for expediting the pre monsoon preparedness in the places that fall under their jurisdiction.

Last year, the desilting of Mumbai started from the first week of March, owing to which the city saw minimum waterlogging last year. Civic officials said that even though the process of desilting this year had started from April 1, this year the target will be well achieved during the next two months.

Earlier in March, the BMC appointed 31 different agencies at a cost of Rs 249 crore to carry out the yearlong desilting works.

This year, the BMC intends to remove 13.1 crore Metric Tonnes (MT) silt over the next one year, out of which around 10.2 crore MT will be removed by May, 2024, before monsoon this year, while 1.57 lakh MT will be removed during monsoon. The remaining 1.32 lakh MT of silt will be removed between October 2024 and March 2025.

Out of the total number of agencies that have been appointed by BMC, 15 will carry out desilting in western suburbs, 10 in eastern suburbs and three in island city. Alongside this, three agencies have been appointed specifically to desilt the Mithi River.