Old drains make base of Mumbai’s Pali Hill prone to floods

Mumbai city news: Residents said they have complained to the BMC and the CM’s office, but have still seen no action.

Pali Hill is seeing a housing and restaurant boom. However, its surrounding areas are also in danger.

Pali gaothan’s water supply and sewage system, built 75 years ago, has been unable to keep pace with the rapid development the area has seen in the past decade. “A drain around one entrance at Pali Naka and another on 16th Road are constantly clogged,” said Goering Vincent, a businessman and resident of the area. Residents said they have complained to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and have taken the issue to the chief minister’s office, but have still seen no action.

“When the water from the hill trickles down during the monsoon, it mixes with water from drains. This floods our gaothan,” said Titus Fernandes, a member of the Pali Gaothan East Indian Resident Association. Civic workers have cleaned drains, but every 15 days, the issue resurfaces, residents said. The clogged drains are turning into breeding grounds for diseases.

Some residents said the clogged drains were due to commercialisation of their centuries-old locality. “The eateries may be dumping waste into these gutters, which is why they get filled every 15 days,” Vincent said. Neil Pereira, another gaothan resident, suggested the government should ask a private firm to survey the area. Pereira also suggested a new drain on Dr BR Ambedkar Road, which links Pali Hill to the gaothan. The H (West) ward officer was not available for comment, but corporator Swapna Mhatre, said, “I have met the waste management department, but work can’t be done now because of monsoon.”

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