The long-awaited construction of two pumping stations at Mogra Nullah in Andheri and Mahul is finally progressing after nearly two decades since the July 26, 2005 deluge.
The civic body has recently submitted Rs. 33 crores to cover the cost of the disputed land for the Mogra pumping station in the Bombay High Court (HC). Additionally, the land for the Mahul pumping station in Chembur, currently salt pan land, will soon be acquired as confirmed by a civic official.
The BMC has faced ongoing challenges in acquiring land for these pumping stations, two of eight such projects recommended by the Chitale Committee following the 2005 Mumbai deluge. While the tender for the Mogra pumping station was finalised in 2021, land acquisition has been delayed due to legal disputes over land ownership between two private parties.
In the case of the Mahul pumping station, despite the BMC’s efforts to coordinate with the Salt Commissioner, a Government of India entity that owns land in the area, the acquisition process has faced persistent setbacks.The Mogra pumping station is vital for alleviating flooding in Andheri, which submerges every year during the monsoon. The BMC was directed to pay Rs. 33 crore to move forward with the project. "The amount has been deposited in the HC, allowing the work to begin," said a senior civic official.
The project is expected to take 24 months to complete, including the monsoon season, with a target completion date of December 2026. Regarding the Mahul pumping station, the Salt Commissionerate has a policy that allows land for public sector projects, including stormwater pumping stations, to be acquired at a 10% cost.
As a result, the BMC will need to pay Rs. 5.8 crore to acquire the land, according to officials. This pumping station can solve the issue of waterlogging in Kurla, Sion, Matunga and Chembur.At the time of high tide, floodgates are closed to prevent seawater from entering the city. These stations pump out water from the drain and release it into the sea.
Irla pumping station in Juhu was the first to be commissioned in 2010, followed by Haji Ali, Cleveland, Lovegrove in Worli and Reay road - Britannia, Gajdharbandh at Khar danda. Mahul pumping station costs Rs.350 crores and Mogra pumping station costs Rs. 393 crores.
