The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) faced sharp criticism on Monday after Hindmata and other low-lying areas were left waterlogged following an intense pre-monsoon downpour. Caught off-guard, civic officials attributed the flooding to the unexpectedly early arrival of the monsoon and delays in activating dewatering pumps.
Despite having installed 11 dewatering pumps in Hindmata to channel rainwater into underground holding tanks beneath St Xavier’s Ground in Parel and Pramod Mahajan Udyan in Dadar, residents and shopkeepers reported significant flooding. Many expressed frustration, saying the issue is chronic and avoidable.
“This happens every year. We’ve adapted with makeshift elevations, but water still enters our shops,” said Manish Dedhia, a garment shop owner. “We had to come in and clean up despite Monday being a weekly holiday.”
Sunil Mamania, another shopkeeper, questioned the system’s effectiveness: “Even with pumps installed, our shops flood. We want clarity on how the system works and where the water goes.”
Sarwar Alam, owner of Noori Collection, added that the timing of the rain spared them major losses, as the market remains shut on Mondays. However, many had to clean and dry goods that got soaked.
Insurance coverage remains another hurdle, with companies refusing to insure shops unless they’re built at least four feet above ground level—an impractical requirement for the area.
BMC officials acknowledged a lapse in preparedness. “The tender for pump maintenance expired last year. A new contractor came on board only 15 days ago and was scheduled to start pumps by 26 May. We thought a one-day delay wouldn’t matter,” said Additional Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar. He noted that 70% of pumps are now operational, with the remainder to be functional in the coming days.
Source: Mid-day
