BMC officials claim that they have successfully completed the ‘MSDP-I’ project and cleaned the nullahs, but all of this seems to be only on paper
Vibha Singh, Chembur
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials from the eastern suburbs have submitted documents stating that it has successfully completed the ‘MSDP - I’ project which included works such as laying of new sewers lines, improvement of pumping stations and work on the marine outfalls at Ghatkopar. But the situation is not at all that rosy, as the administration claims on paper.
The civic corporations ambitious plan to desilt nullahs and clean the sewerage from the nullahs may not see light of the day, as it is alleged that some contractors are not carrying out the work as instructed by the officials. It is alleged that silt, debris from private sites is dumped at the dumping ground and garbage, which is taken out from the nullahs and drains, is being thrown back into them. This year the BMC had awarded an Rs 18-crore contract for desilting of nullahs before the monsoon. Previously nullahs were desilted in phases, but since 26/7, nullahs are to be cleaned completely before the monsoon and need to be regularly cleaned during the monsoon. However, a visit to some of the sites suggests that the situation has not changed much in areas like Union Park, Subhash Nagar, P L Lokhande Marg, Deonar, Chembur Camp, Collectors colony, where one can see the silt being kept outside the nullah.
The Subhash Nagar and Somiaya nullahs are full of garbage and the officials have no reply for this. Now, the BMC has started implementation of the second phase of the ambitious ‘Mumbai Sewage Disposal Project’ (MSDP) that constitutes a master plan presented up to the year 2025, at a whopping cost of Rs 5,570.40 crores.
Speaking to CG PLUS, R A Rajeev, additional municipal commissioner, in charge of solid waste management, informed, “MCGM has planned to complete priority works by 2011. The priority works are divided in different work components as ‘Components I’, ‘II’ and ‘III’. Works under ‘Component-I has already commenced. These works include upsizing of sewers, laying new sewers, constructing area sewers, micro tunnelling, pipe bursting, and rehabilitation of sewers. Priority work in ‘Component - I’ will be done by the MCGM where as ‘Component II’ and ‘III’ will be carried out with the help of consultants. Upsizing of sewers and pipe bursting will curb the overflows and also screens will be fixed at drop shafts to run the tunnel to its full capacity by blocking floating material before it enters the tunnel. New sewer lines are being laid and these sewers lines will be linked to the mains.”
He also revealed that the BMC has treatment plants at Ghatkopar wherein sewage water is being treated before being disposed off into the sea. Sewage water will be disposed off up to 3 kms into the sea. Apart from this the civic administration also plans to include slums in the said project, as they do not have proper channels for disposal of sewerage. “Also, old sewer lines are being repaired, as most of them are in a bad state,” said Rajeev.
"Screens will be fixed at drop shafts to run the tunnel to its full capacity by blocking floating material before it
enters the tunnel."
- RA Rajeev, additional municipal commissioner
Mumbai Mirror