BMC Plans Major Flood Mitigation Push, Eyes NDRF Funding To Tackle Mumbai’s Chronic Waterlogging

Mumbai: After another spell of intense monsoon rain left several low lying parts of Mumbai submerged, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced plans to seek financial assistance from the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) for a comprehensive flood mitigation project aimed at reducing the city’s recurring waterlogging problem.

BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide said the civic body is preparing a detailed project report with technical support from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay. The proposed initiative is expected to focus on long term infrastructure improvements designed to reduce flooding at nearly 300 to 350 vulnerable locations across Mumbai.

The announcement comes after heavy rainfall over the past week caused widespread waterlogging in several parts of the city despite ongoing desilting of rivers, drains, and stormwater channels. According to the commissioner, Mumbai’s geographical characteristics make it especially susceptible to flooding during periods of intense rainfall.

Bhide explained that when nearly 300 millimetres of rain falls within a short period and coincides with a high tide of around 4.5 metres, water accumulation becomes difficult to avoid. She noted that Mumbai, surrounded by the Arabian Sea on three sides and largely developed on reclaimed land, faces unique drainage challenges during such extreme weather conditions.

While acknowledging that inadequate cleaning of drains in some localities may have contributed to waterlogging, the commissioner maintained that the city’s rivers and major drainage channels are cleaned regularly before and during the monsoon season.

If funding is approved, the proposed flood management programme will include the construction of new pumping stations, expansion of the capacity of existing pumping stations, installation of automated flood gates, and extension of the city’s stormwater drainage pipeline network. These measures are intended to improve the speed and efficiency of rainwater discharge during heavy downpours.

The civic administration believes that the project, once implemented, will strengthen Mumbai’s resilience against increasingly intense monsoon rainfall and help reduce the frequency and severity of flooding in some of the city’s most vulnerable neighbourhoods.

ALSO READ: Mumbai Water Cuts To Stay Despite Reservoir Levels Jumping After Heavy Rain, Vihar Lake Overflows