Bandra, Khar likely to face waterlogging

Mumbai: The residents of the western suburbs will have to bear waterlogging in Bandra and Khar, at least this monsoon, as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is still struggling to widen the major storm water drain (SWD) in Bandra.

The widening of the Chamdawadi nullahs is needed to allow unobstructed draining of rainwater into the Arabian Sea.

However, there is a stay by the Bombay high court on removal of encroachments after the residents approached the court against demolition.

The chamdawadi nullahs cause major waterlogging in the Bandra to Khar East stretch, which includes S.V. Road and National College area. The BMC’s SWD department this year has decided to install a higher capacity— 1,000 cubic metre submergible dewatering pump to decrease the duration of waterlogging. Till last monsoon, four pumps of 240 cubic metres were installed.

“The ward office will approach the court to sort out the matter. As soon as the ward office removes all the encroachments, we will widen the nullah. However, as monsoon is on its way now, it seems difficult this season,” a senior officer from the SWD department said.