Mumbai
Has BMC Ignored Expert's Post-267 Flowchart For Rainwater Disposal?
Mumbai's stormwater drains have been designed to handle 50mm rainfall per hour. Yet, a maximum precipitation of 70% of that amount was sufficient to knock Mumbai out on Friday .
In the island city, the maximum hourly rainfall recorded was 34.8mm--from 1pm to 2pm in C-ward. In the eastern suburbs, a maximum of 33.02mm was recorded at Kurla from 3pm to 4pm. In the western suburbs, BKC and H-East ward (Bandra East) received maximum hourly rainfall of 22.61mm between 3pm and 4pm.
Yet the city was brought to a standstill, clearly indicating that the BMC has either not created the 50mm per hour capacity or the `redesigned' drains have not been cleaned. Incidentally, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray , who inspects drains every year, had expressed satisfaction with the work done this year.
Hydrologist Madhav Chitale, who had submitted recommendations to ensure a floodfree city after the 2005 floods, said his report specified the kind of preparations the city needs, including recommendations for coping with the probability of floods once in two years, once in 10 years, 25 years, 50 years, 100 years and over 100 years (see graphic). “If the (drains) are able to handle the rains, the conclusion is that the recommendations have been implemented. If not, it is clear the drains are choked and haven't been redesigned,“ he said. His report pointed out that roads and railways flood because of an absence of cross-drainage. Chitale had highlighted the guidelines prepared by the Indian Road Congress for ur ban roads. These included a cross-drainage network per mitting flooding only once in 50 years on urban roads and once n 100 years on railways and highways. BMC chief Ajoy Mehta, who took charge last month, refused comment on he recommendations.
TIMES VIEW:
The normal excuses will be given for Friday's mess: we will talk about Mumbai's geography and the combination of heavy rain and high tide. All these factors are true; they have contributed to the problems.But citizens are upset with the things that they feel can be handled better. Should roads crack up under the impact of just one week of rain? Why are even areas close to pumping stations flooded? We can't sort out nature but government agencies can definitely improve their response to what nature throws at us.
Has BMC Ignored Expert's Post-267 Flowchart For Rainwater Disposal?
Mumbai's stormwater drains have been designed to handle 50mm rainfall per hour. Yet, a maximum precipitation of 70% of that amount was sufficient to knock Mumbai out on Friday .
In the island city, the maximum hourly rainfall recorded was 34.8mm--from 1pm to 2pm in C-ward. In the eastern suburbs, a maximum of 33.02mm was recorded at Kurla from 3pm to 4pm. In the western suburbs, BKC and H-East ward (Bandra East) received maximum hourly rainfall of 22.61mm between 3pm and 4pm.
Yet the city was brought to a standstill, clearly indicating that the BMC has either not created the 50mm per hour capacity or the `redesigned' drains have not been cleaned. Incidentally, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray , who inspects drains every year, had expressed satisfaction with the work done this year.
Hydrologist Madhav Chitale, who had submitted recommendations to ensure a floodfree city after the 2005 floods, said his report specified the kind of preparations the city needs, including recommendations for coping with the probability of floods once in two years, once in 10 years, 25 years, 50 years, 100 years and over 100 years (see graphic). “If the (drains) are able to handle the rains, the conclusion is that the recommendations have been implemented. If not, it is clear the drains are choked and haven't been redesigned,“ he said. His report pointed out that roads and railways flood because of an absence of cross-drainage. Chitale had highlighted the guidelines prepared by the Indian Road Congress for ur ban roads. These included a cross-drainage network per mitting flooding only once in 50 years on urban roads and once n 100 years on railways and highways. BMC chief Ajoy Mehta, who took charge last month, refused comment on he recommendations.
TIMES VIEW:
The normal excuses will be given for Friday's mess: we will talk about Mumbai's geography and the combination of heavy rain and high tide. All these factors are true; they have contributed to the problems.But citizens are upset with the things that they feel can be handled better. Should roads crack up under the impact of just one week of rain? Why are even areas close to pumping stations flooded? We can't sort out nature but government agencies can definitely improve their response to what nature throws at us.
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