Kolkata: The civic body has decided to construct 21 lifting stations along the Hooghly and Adi Ganga. Member, mayor-in-council overseeing the KMC sewerage and drainage department, Tarak Singh, on Friday said KMC has decided to construct the lifting stations to ensure less waterlogging in pockets that fall in the catchment areas.
According to a civic official, residents of Sovabazar, Bagbazar, Chitpur, Burrabazar, Jorasanko, Bhowanipore, Kalighat, and Tollygunge will be saved from severe waterlogging for longer hours. In addition, lifting stations and lock gates will need to be constructed along drainage outfall canals, like Chorial Khal, Bagjola Khal, Monikhali Khal, among others.
According to an official, some of the 21 lifting stations will be set up in Sovabazar Ghat, Jagannath Ghat, Millennium Park, Chandpal Ghat, Judges Ghat, Doighat (Kidderpore), Hazra Road, Siriti, and Tollygunge, among others.
According to an official, KMC has taken up a Rs 207 crore sewerage and drainage development plan for large parts of north and central Kolkata to save lakhs of residents from severe waterlogging. According to plans, the civic body will take up refurbishment of the 148-year-old underground sewer line from Moulali to Palmer Bridge drainage pumping station. After completion of the Rs 175 crore sewer refurbishment and rehabilitation project, over 10 lakh people across 30 KMC wards will be spared flooding during monsoons, said a KMC official.
The 1.1km-long underground sewer line, known as the Town outfall sewer line, started functioning in 1876 and is the third oldest brick sewer in the world.
As the capacity of the underground ‘trunk' sewer line will be enhanced after the special desilting project, KMC will upgrade Palmer Bridge drainage pumping station to take the extra load of storm water from several north and central Kolkata neighbourhoods. "We have decided to set up two major sumps at the drainage pumping station and install eight high-power pumps," said a KMC official.
In addition, the KMC will set up a drainage pumping station at Hrishikesh Park, which will take care of the waterlogging woes of several areas like Amherst Street, Sukeas Street, Thanthania, and Muktarambabu Street.