Monsoon waterlogging: Agencies focus on city’s flood-prone zones
Times of India | 6 May 2025
12 Kolkata: Multiple state agencies will work in close contact with the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) to prevent flooding in the city's major waterlogging pockets. Mayor Firhad Hakim on Monday held a monsoon preparedness meeting with state govt agencies, like PWD, KMDA, the irrigation department, the fire services department, Kolkata Police, CESC, and the Kolkata Port Trust.
While the PWD officials were asked to cooperate with the KMC sewerage and drainage department officials to ensure no flooding of SSKM Hospital or the state Assembly building, the KMDA officials were told to maintain the drainage system of Maa and AJC Bose flyovers. On a rainy day, traffic crawls on these flyovers due to waterlogging on stretches. State irrigation department officials said dredging work on a few outfall canals, like Beliaghata Circular Canal and Manikhali, was on the verge of completion. However, the mayor asked them to ensure that stormwater receded quickly through several outfall canals around the city that form the backbone of the drainage system.
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Hakim asked the drainage department officials to keep a close eye on the functioning of the drainage pumping stations, as these stations play a vital role in draining stormwater from waterlogged streets.
Kolkata Police additional commissioner D P Singh requested the KMC to hand over a list of extremely insecure buildings across the city so that timely action can be taken to shift the residents before monsoon. Hakim asked the KoPT officials to take adequate measures to drain stormwater from Taratala Road and Hyde Road. The KMC roads department will need to prepare a list of potholed roads and take timely and effective steps for their repair before the monsoon.