Civic bodies in Thane, Navi Mumbai issue directives for monsoon preparedness

Representational image. Pic/iStock

The officials on Tuesday said that the civic authorities in Thane and Navi Mumbai have issued directives for monsoon preparedness and set deadlines for completing infrastructure works, reported news agency PTI.

Thane Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao has ordered the completion of all ongoing development projects by May 20, with specific attention to Ghodbunder Road.

He has asked officials to focus on 24x7 operational control rooms, expedite road and pothole repairs by the MMRDA and MSRDC (with deadlines for key roads), remove metro barricades, take joint efforts with railways for drain cleaning, come up with detailed traffic management plan, among other measures by May 30, reported PTI.

According to officials, Navi Mumbai municipal commissioner Dr Kailash Shinde has ordered the completion of pre-monsoon tasks like drain cleaning and tree pruning, alongside continuous operation of control rooms and regular field inspections, reported PTI.

His directives include swift maintenance of essential services (roads, water, sewage, parks) and action on dangerous buildings, they said.

Meanwhile, Kalyan-Dombivli municipal commissioner Abhinav Goyal convened a meeting to discuss the readiness of all departments (especially fire), setting up emergency medical facilities in hospitals, and collaboration with police for the evacuation of residents from high-risk buildings, with schools designated as temporary shelters, reported PTI.

BMC steps up monsoon preparedness to prevent flooding in Mumbai

Ahead of Mumbai rains, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is taking major steps to prevent waterlogging in flood-prone areas of the city before the arrival of monsoon season.

Several low-lying areas in Mumbai witness waterlogging during heavy rains.

He directed the BMC officials to work in coordination with the railway officials.

Bangar suggested conducting a hydraulic survey and implementing appropriate measures to improve water discharge.

He conducted a field inspection of several waterlogging-prone locations in the city and eastern suburbs, including the Mankhurd underpass, Chembur's Shell Colony underpass, Tembhi Bridge, S.G. Barve Road near Chandrodya Society at Kurla Junction, Chunabhatti railway station, and the Hindmata rainwater holding pond.

Bangar was accompanied by Chief Engineer (Stormwater Drains) Shridhar Chaudhary and other senior officials.

The statement said that specific measures are to be taken at the Mankhurd Maharashtra Nagar underpass to prevent flooding, while systematic drainage planning is to be carried out in the Tembhi Bridge area.

At Hindmata pumping station, the operation must be made more efficient with the installation of flow meters and standardisation of pump capacity across all seven pumps, the official statement said.

To ensure faster rainwater drainage during monsoon, additional pumping facilities are to be installed where necessary. Internet of Things (IoT) based technology will be integrated with existing pumps to enable real-time monitoring through disaster management systems. These sensors will help immediately detect whether pumps are operational or not, the BMC said.

It said that as part of pre-monsoon preparations, BMC's Stormwater Drainage Department is actively carrying out various works, the officials said.

(With inputs from PTI)