Work on seventh of Mumbai's 8 pumping stations to begin soon

Sewage water flows into the sea from Lovegrove pumping station at Worli. File pic

Almost 16 years after the Madhav Chitale committee report recommended setting up of eight pumping stations in the city post the July 26, 2005 floods, work on the seventh one at Mogra nullah will finally start. Work on the pumping station was halted over some legal issues. To be built at a cost of R393 crore, once the Mogra pumping station starts functioning, Andheri and Versova areas are likely to get relief from excessive flooding during monsoon. The eighth and the last pumping station at Mahul is still on paper.

Sewage water flows from the Wadala pumping station. File pic

While there are floodgates at every nullah to prevent seawater from entering the city, at the same time it is required to pump out excess water into the sea. For the purpose, the Chitale committee had recommended setting up eight pumping stations, of which six have already been set up at Haji Ali, Lovegrove, Cleveland, Irla, Britannia and Gazdhar Bandh.

The proposal will be tabled in the standing committee meeting today for discussion. As per the proposal, the BMC administration recommended contractors M/s Michigan Engineers and M/s Mhalsa Construction (joint) for construction of the pumping station. This station would provide relief to people living in the low-lying areas of Andheri, Jogeshwari and Versova in the western suburbs. The land on which the Mogra pumping station is supposed to come up has been under dispute with two of its owners claiming value. The BMC deposited the land value - Rs 45 crore - in the court, which will be given to the owners after the dispute is resolved. So now, the BMC will plan the pumping station on the land with the suburb collector's permission.