Indian Express 24.09.2009
KMC not ready to combat waterlogging
The Alipore Meteorological office has already alerted the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) about waterlogging during Pujas in view of the possible sporadic rainfall. But the civic body is yet to gear up for the task.
According to senior official of the drainage department, the KMC is yet to arrange for an extra pump. The age-old drainage system can drain out 6 mm of rainwater in an hour with the available pumps.
On Monday, the city had a taste of the possible scenario in case of heavy rains: large areas of north and Central Kolkata remained submerged after an hour-long shower. Dum Dum, Cossipore, Arabinda Sarani, Bagbazar, Bidhan Sarani and Chittaranjan Avenue in the north, BBD Bag, Lenin Sarani, AJC Bose Road, Camac Street in Central Kolkata and Bhowanipore, Sarat Bose Road, New Alipore, Mominpore, Kidderpore, Behala and parts of Tollygunge in the south were waterlogged.
Amit Roy, chief engineer of the drainage department, said: “We could not arrange for extra pumps. So the existing pumps will be put to work. We have deployed 300 labourers in all pockets of the city, including Rashbehari Avenue, Central Avenue and Thanthania.”
A senior civic official said the existing pumps need upgradation, as most of them do not work. A few days ago, parts of the city were waterlogged after pumps in Palmar Bazaar pumping station could not function for two hours due to a power failure. The station caters to a 17.5 sq-km stretch, which includes parts of north and central Kolkata. Both dedicated lines to the pumping station did not work that day.
Asked about the maintenance of the dedicated lines from CESC, Roy said: “We have asked CESC several times to deploy an official at the pumping station. But nothing has been done yet. If power trips at the pumping station again during the puja, the city will drown.”
