Pumps with IoT sensors: How BMC is planning to tackle waterlogging in Mumbai
According to civic officials, it was the non-functionality of a majority of dewatering pumps that led to waterlogging and flooding in Mumbai on May 26.
Written by Pratip Acharya
Mumbai | June 20, 2025 02:28 PM IST
3 min read
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This year, the BMC has installed 514 pumps across locations in the island city as well as the suburbs.
(File Photo)
With the May 26 flooding serving as a wake-up call, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to install Internet of Things (IoT) sensors on the dewatering pumps being set up in low-lying areas in the island city.
Every year, ahead of the monsoon, the civic body identifies low-lying areas and installs dewatering pumps there.
This year, the BMC has installed 514 pumps across locations in the island city as well as the suburbs.
These pumps channel out the accumulated water from a particular area to the nearby drainage outlets and creeks.
Civic officials attributed this to the non-functionality of a majority of the water pumps.
“Last year, in one such incident at Mumbai’s Chunabhatti, we saw that despite pumps being installed in a particular area, there was huge flooding. Later, during our investigation, we found out that the pumps were fully ready, but the contractor responsible for operating the pumps did not turn them on, and this led to severe waterlogging in the area. Therefore, as a preventive measure against such incidents, we are installing sensors in the dewatering pumps,” Abhijit Bangar, Additional Municipal Commissioner, Projects, told The Indian Express.
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How will the sensors work?
The IoT sensors will be motion-based and will be installed on the belts of the pumps.
These belts record a high-speed motion whenever a pump is turned on, and the sensors will be able to detect when a pump is switched on from the motion of the belt.
Close to the pump, a receptor will be placed by the civic authorities, which will record the signals sent by the sensor.
This receptor will transmit the recorded data from the sensor, which will have IoT chips in it, and transmit the data to the civic body’s war room.
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“The sensors are motion-based devices. They will record the time when the pump is switched on and will transmit information about the entire duration for which the pump operates. So, for example, if rainfall starts at 11 am, we can clearly identify when the operator has switched on the pump and whether he did that on time. Any delay in operation will be caught as a result…these pumps will also increase accountability amongst the contractors,” Bangar added.
Officials said that by the end of this week, sensors will be installed in as many as 100 pumps and by the end of the next few weeks, the numbers will be augmented.
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
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