Severe flooding across Vasai, Virar and Nalasopara following heavy monsoon showers has renewed concerns over urban planning, encroachments and inadequate drainage infrastructure in the Vasai-Virar region.
Environmentalist Charan Bhatt has attributed the recurring flooding to illegal construction, land filling and the absence of a comprehensive master drainage plan. He said wetlands, mangroves, streams and natural flood channels have been affected by development, reducing the region’s ability to absorb excess rainwater.
The Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) area includes extensive wetlands, rivers, ponds, floodplains, mangroves and CRZ zones, with the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, Vaitarna Creek, Vasai Creek and the Arabian Sea forming its broader ecological setting.
Bhatt also pointed to the expiry of the previous Development Plan in 2021. He said it had been prepared for a population of around 17–19 lakh, while the region’s population has since crossed 30 lakh.
“The previous Development Plan permitted development on only 21 percent of the land. The remaining area was reserved as restricted or no-development land because of its ecological significance,” he said.
“These restricted zones were gradually opened up illegally for construction through a nexus between builders and corrupt civic officials, severely reducing the area’s natural flood-buffering capacity,” Bhatt alleged.
Residents have reported prolonged power outages, inaccessible roads and difficulty obtaining drinking water. “There was no electricity for around 36 hours. Water could not be pumped to the overhead tank and I cannot even step out to buy drinking water because all the roads are flooded,” said Vasai East resident Charubala Mehrotra.
A civic officer said, “We are facing a lot of difficulties in reaching the office. Babus come in the car, we have motorcycles which we can’t ride in flooded roads. We have to wade through waist-high flooded stretches. People are laughing at us.”
VVCMC Commissioner Prithviraj BP acknowledged that a comprehensive drainage plan is still being developed. “We do have the drainage plan in bits and pieces but the comprehensive drainage plan is yet to be prepared. We have engaged government agencies and are yet to sign the final agreement.”
On flooding, he said, “No drainage system in the country is designed to tackle this kind of rainfall.”
He added that three people had drowned in the area over four days, while civic teams were using tractors and fire engines to transport residents and deliver essential supplies.
Source: Mumbai Mirror
