Mumbai Buzz: BMC devises plan to mitigate floods | 337 dilapidated buildings identified… and more

IMD issues orange alert in Mumbai; Workshop conducted by the BMC to develop a flood mitigation plan; Malaria elimination campaign kickstarts.

IMD issues orange alert over heat wave in Mumbai

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert in many parts of Maharashtra including Chandrapur, Akola, Wardha, Yavatmal etc. Mumbai too has recorded above average temperatures. On April 28th, Mumbai’s maximum temperature was 4 degrees above normal, at 37 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature was 25 degrees, which is considered normal.

IMD’s regional forecast suggests that sunny weather conditions will remain in coastal Maharashtra and Marathwada till May 2nd.

Source: The Indian Express


Read more: Rising temperatures in Mumbai call for mitigation measures, but where are they?


Another attempt by the BMC to mitigate floods in Mumbai

On April 28th The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) held a two day workshop on flood risk and mitigation for the soon approaching monsoons. The workshop helped develop a comprehensive plan for flood mitigation.

According to BMC’s Additional Commissioner, P Velarasu, a lot of factors are at play when it comes to flood risk, like the distribution of rain, the number of stormwater drain outfalls, etc. 150 spots in Mumbai fall below sea level. “While Mumbai’s flood vulnerability may not be new, it is increasing every year, and hence no system will be able to cope with it,” he told The Times of India.

For 2022, the BMC has invested in building water pumping stations across the city that will help vulnerable areas in managing floods. They even plan on constructing more underground holding tanks, like the ones in King’s circle and Dadar’s Pramod Mahajan Udyan, that will control floods in below sea level areas.

Despite all these measures being put in place, it remains to be seen whether the BMC can assure a flood-free Mumbai.

Source: The Times of India, The Free Press Journal

Desilting drives in Mumbai to conclude just in time for monsoons

Desilting, a precautionary measure against waterlogging, is carried out every year near major drainage networks to ensure that water flows freely in the city. Desilting work involves removing sludge, clay and other sediments from the bottom of drainage spots. The drainage network in Mumbai spans over 2000 kilometres and desilting work in Mumbai is set to be completed by May-end, just in time for monsoon season.

The BMC’s annual drive of desilting water bodies like lakes and rivers has achieved 25% of their target, and they aim to reach the 50% mark by the first week of May.

Flood prone areas in the Oshiwara rivers, Mithi river and BKC are being prioritised. 

Source: Hindustan Times

BMC releases list of dilapidated buildings in Mumbai

an old building near grant road
(Representative Image) An old building near grant road. Photo: Radha Puranik

Every year, ahead of the monsoon season, the BMC releases a list of buildings that are dilapidated or unfit for habitation. This list is developed by studying the structure of buildings. If beams or pillars are bent or if foundation stones are worn out, the building is categorised as a C-1 structure, meaning it is a dilapidated structure.

This year the BMC has identified 337 residential buildings in Mumbai as dangerous. Notices are sent to owners of buildings that are over 70 years old to carry out structural audits.

163 of these buildings have been identified in the western suburbs, 104 in the eastern suburbs and 70 in south Bombay. Once these buildings are identified, residents are asked to redevelop it or demolish it altogether.

Source: Hindustan Times

Malaria elimination campaign reintroduced in high-risk wards

Mumbai’s plan to eliminate malaria was halted due to the pandemic, however the BMC plans to bring back the campaign in full force in wards that have continued to report a high number of cases.

In the running since 2017, when the city’s annual parasite index (API) – the number of confirmed new malaria cases in a specific year, per 1,000 individuals, for given country, territory or geographic area – was high, the city is currently working on an action plan to eliminate Malaria cases, an issue not new to the city. In 2019, 4,357 malaria cases were reported, 5,007 in 2020 and 5,193 in 2021. Among five parasite species that cause malaria in humans, two are commonly found in Mumbai – P. falciparum and P. vivax.

Mumbai’s average API remains below 1, but wards like ward A, C, E, F South and G South have an API of over 1. The action plan is focused on these areas.

Door-to-door case detection, blood sample collection, anti-larval treatment at construction sites, mosquito proofing water storage tanks, releasing guppy fish in open water bodies and wells and fogging and spraying of insecticides in places where water is accumulated are all part of the action plan.

Source: Hindustan Times

[Compiled by Radha Puranik]

Also read:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Similar Story

Bengaluru Buzz: Limiting water usage | Model Code of Conduct for polls … and more

Other news of the week: 500 MLD shortage every day, Blue and Yellow Metro Lines to be linked, and no fine for late payment of March power bills.

Limits on using water The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has drawn up some guidelines to celebrate Holi on March 25th. While the festival can be followed in households or in public, potable water for any such event cannot be used. A rain or pool dance should not be organised for monetary gains and Cauvery or borewell water should not be leveraged for the event, said BWSSB Chairman, V. Ramprasath Manohar. However, several hotels are selling tickets for pool parties. Meanwhile, it is mandatory for bulk water users to install flow restrictors or aerators by the end of…

Similar Story

Mumbai Buzz: Bhushan Gagrani is BMC Commissioner | Two children drown in Wadala… and more

And in other news in Mumbai: Signal failure causes chaos on WR; Water problem solved in Vasai-Virar; 20,000 vehicles on Coastal Road.

Bhushan Gagrani replaces Iqbal Singh Chahal as BMC Commissioner On Monday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) asked the Maharashtra Chief Secretary to immediately transfer the Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Iqbal Singh Chahal. Besides this, it also asked for the transfer of all Additional Municipal Commissioners and Deputy Municipal Commissioners, who have been in their current posting for over three years and are posted in their home district in Maharashtra. Soon after taking charge from Iqbal Singh Chahal, new BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani addressed a meeting for monsoon preparedness. Pic: BMC via Twitter (X) On Wednesday, the ECI…