KMC tries to fix Bypass, Behala rain-pain zones but wait seems endless for locals
Times of India | 9 June 2024
Kolkata: There appears to be no respite for residents of large parts of Behala and neighbourhoods off EM Bypass from waterlogging. Several parts of Behala are still lying dug up as drainage upgrade work under the Kolkata Environment and Infrastructure Improvement Project (KEIIP) is far from over.
“Residents of Mukundapur, Nayabad, Madurdaha, Kasba, Garfa, Tiljala, Topsia, Beliaghata and Kadaparalocated off EM Bypass are likely to be affected this monsoon too.As there is hardly any drainage network here and with a proposal for desilting of some Bypass areas still pending with Kolkata traffic police, we can’t prevent flooding in the ensuing rainy season,” said a KMC official.
KMC sewerage and drainage department is also worried over several neighbourhoods across three borough areas that might get inundated due to an unfinished drainage upgrade system. “Residents in Thakurpukur, Motilal Gupta Road, Kalipada Mukherjee Road, Sarsuna, Shakuntala Park and Barisha in wards 123 to 128 are likely to face waterlogging woes in the ensuing monsoon,” said a civic official.
Dipankar Chatterjee, a resident of Motilal Gupta Road who works at a private firm, complained of an inordinate delay in wrapping up the drainage upgrade project in the neighbourhood. “We have been suffering every monsoon as the drainage upgrade project appears to be never-ending. We are keeping our fingers crossed. Last year rainwater had entered my ground floor flat,” he said.
Mukundapur resident Amrita Sur, a paramedical staff, was disappointment over the delay in completion of the drainage upgrade project in the neighbourhood. “Every year we get to hear that there will be no waterlogging from the next year. But, in reality the wait is getting longer. We don't know what will happen this year,” said Sur.
A KMC drainage department official said residents of some parts of Behala and EM Bypass would need to wait for another year to get relief from waterlogging. “The drainage upgrade work going on in several areas of Behala and EM Bypass is not yet complete. We are mobilizing portable pumps and will try to give relief to residents by flushing out storm water in the event of a downpour. But, the efforts to flush out rainwater will take time,” said the official.