DNA Rain Check: Even planned city like Navi Mumbai sees water logging

Even in Navi Mumbai, which is a planned city with wide roads and improved sewage system, there have been instances of water-logging during monsoon. There are areas in the city that experience water-logging and other such issues during heavy rainfall.

During the 2005 deluge, when Mumbai had come to a standstill, Navi Mumbai, too, had submerged. However, thereafter, a lot has changed. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) laid down a completely new sewage system and also widened important culverts.

However, once again, in August 2017, when the city received over 150 mm rainfall within 24 hours, parts of Navi Mumbai were water logged, too. Maximum rainfall was recorded in Vashi node where water-logging was seen at three locations.

Jaswapl Singh Naol, social initiative director of Green Society Forum said that there is a need to do much more to prevent water logging. "There are some chronic spots like Sabri Hotel junction in Vashi sector 9 and the area near Vashi sector 6, which often see water logging during heavy rainfall," said Naol. He added that there are also locations in CBD Belapur that are prone to water logging. "The civic body installed pumps to drain out the extra water, but it stops functioning, and the areas remain water logged for a long time," Naol added.

However, Naol accepts that the condition of Navi Mumbai, also known as the satellite city, was much better than other areas last year. "Low lying areas of Airoli and Digha saw major water-logging. Some areas of Digha such as Yadav Nagar, Kanhaiya Nagar, Krishna Nagar, and Iswar Nagar were flooded. Some big nullahs also started overflowing by the evening," he said.

Similarly, Diva village in Airoli, Kopar Khairane sector 19, Vashi bus depot, Turbhe sector 21, and the subways of Ghansoli, and Turbhe police station were also submerged in the deluge.

To tackle emergency situation in these areas, the NMMC had deployed additional officials. They kept labourers round the clock and installed power pumps to flush out rainwater. Yet, they faced flak from the residents who blamed NMMC for not being able to prevent the flood.

Official Speak: Divakar Samel, Assistant Commissioner of Disaster Management Cell of NMMC

"Several parts of Digha and Airoli are low-lying areas and water normally accumulates there after heavy rains. Nothing can be done to avert that problem," said Diwakar Samel, Assistant Commissioner of Disaster Management Cell of NMMC.

"During high tide, the drain water back flows. This coupled with heavy rains results in overflowing of the drains. So, we can't be blamed for the water-logging; negligence was not the issue. We clean all the drains properly before the onset of the monsoons," he said.

WHAT'S THE POINT?

• During the 2005 deluge, when Mumbai had come to a standstill, Navi Mumbai, too, had submerged.
   
• After this, the NMMC laid down a completely new sewage system and also widened important culverts. 
   
• However, once again, in August 2017, when the city received over 150 mm rainfall within 24 hours, parts of Navi Mumbai were water logged, too. 

RESIDENTS SPEAK

Since the de-silting work is not even half complete, there is a possibility that the NMMC may not meet the deadline.  
—Rajeev Mishra, Navi Mumbai resident

During high tide, the drain water back flows. This coupled with heavy rains results in overflowing of the drains. So, we can’t be blamed for the water-logging; negligence was not the issue. We clean all the drains properly before the onset of the monsoons 
—Diwakar Samel, Assistant Commissioner, Disaster Management Cell, NMMC

EXPERT SPEAK

There are some chronic spots like Sabri Hotel junction in Vashi sector 9 and the area near Vashi sector 6, which often see water logging during heavy rains. There are also spots in CBD Belapur that are prone to water logging.
—Jaswapl Naol, Social initiative Director, Green Society Forum