Mumbai: To Solve Problem of Flooding in Dadar And Parel during Monsoon, IIT Bombay suggests construction of Underground Holding Ponds*

 *Mumbai: To Solve Problem of Flooding in Dadar And Parel during Monsoon, IIT Bombay suggests construction of Underground Holding Ponds*

No Mumbai Monsoon is complete without several episodes of waterlogging in low-lying areas of the city, every season. 

To address this annual ‘Ritual’  inundation problem in the low-lying areas of Sion, Dadar and Parel year after year, the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, has suggested the creation of a 17,000m2 underground holding pond at Purandare Stadium.

In June 2021, Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal had directed the railway authorities to rope in IIT Bombay to suggest smart measures to quell monsoon woes.

In its Preliminary Report, IIT Bombay had suggested the creation of holding ponds in the Dadar-Lower Parel areas, for immediate relief from flooding on tracks.

“From our Analysis, the present pumping station, located at the St Xavier’s ground and Pramod Mahajan Park, in its present form, can cater to only around 10 per cent catchment of rains, resulting in flooding at Dadar and Parel,” read the draft of the IIT Bombay’s final report, which was submitted to the Railways on March 8.

The Report Explained that flooding in the railway premises was caused due to the discharge of floodwaters from the Dadar-Hindmata area.

“Hence, an underground holding pond at the Purandare stadium on the upstream side -- with an area of 17000 m2 -- is advisable as a permanent holding pond,” it said, adding that in-depth studies should be carried out by the civic body to reduce flooding in areas beyond the railway stations.

Besides laying a drain between Dadar and Parel, the Report also suggested the creation of an additional rail side, 700m long, 3m wide and 1.5m deep.

IIT Bombay also suggested the desilting of the culverts below the track by using state- of-the-art equipment like cutter robots, etc regularly before and during monsoon, as well as installing the latest rain gauges and flow-level sensors for better alerts.

Apart from the Dadar and Parel areas, the Kurla LTT section was also part of this study. 

The IIT Bombay Report has suggested the desilting of culverts on the north side of the Kurla suburban section on priority basis, which are blocked. 

“Cleaning it would make available 23.89 m3/square of capacity, which would reduce the flooding in Kurla section,” reads the Report. 

This section is considered one of the most sensitive locations of Central Railway’s suburban section, in terms of flooding during monsoon.

Further, IIT Engineers have also suggested enhancing the capacity of sewer systems and the creation of Additional capacity for the smooth flow of storage water during the monsoon in Kurla.

There is a Suggestion for the removal of a drain wall/ side weir between the BMC drain and the downstream exit of the 5.18 diameter culverts adjacent to the carshed nullah, LTT, near the Railway Colony. 

Earlier, in its preliminary reports, the creation of two huge holding ponds was also suggested by the IIT Bombay engineers in December 2021, and this is also part of the final draft of this Report.