Port Trust to provide land for pumping station

“The proposed pumping station would benefit the stretch between Dadar fire station to Dattaram Lad Marg at the Ambedkar Road junction in the east of Lalbaug area,” Watave said.

However,the construction of the pumping station will start only by October or November,he said. “It is expected that the pumping station would be ready by mid 2012,” he added.

Lalbaug,parts of which are low-lying,is known for flooding with even moderate rainfall. The civic administration has proposed to set up a pumping station at the Britannia outfall located at Raey Road. The pumping station will flush out the flood water during high tides and use pumps to move flood water to the sea. The pumping station will benefit areas of Kalachowkie,Lalbaug and Parel,said Watave.

As part of the Birhanmumbai Storm Water Drain (Brimstowad) project,the BMC had proposed eight pumping stations. In the first phase,four of them were to be ready by 2008. However,as of now,only two,at Haji Ali and Irla,are in place. The phase 2 of the project includes,pumping stations at Britannia Outfall at Reay Road,Gazdarband at Santacruz (West),Mogra Nullah at Andheri (West) and Mahul Creek . These haven’t even reached the the tendering stage.

Kshatriya said that the officials should regularly clean the drains at Hindmata and areas near Sardar Hotel in Lalbaug as these areas are prone to flooding. On the good rains for the past few days,he said,“If the good monsoon continues,we will be able to review water cut situation very soon.”

As on June 17,Colaba weather station has recorded 348 mm of rainfall and Santacruz weather station 305 mm of rainfall.