Rain gauge systems, Mithi cleaning helped: Mah govt

Mumbai, July 5 (UNI) The automatic rain gauge systems which have been set up in 26 different places in Mumbai have helped the state administration to take quick decisions regarding the problems arising out of water logging in low lying areas.

Principal secretary to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, U C Sarangi told reporters here today that rainfall was monitored every one hour and the data was forwarded to the decision makers who then activated respective wards to tackle emergencies.

According to him, the rain gauge system have helped the administration in differentiating in the rainfall recorded in the island city and suburbs which was not the case last year when the suburbs witnessed 944 mm of rain while city only 73 mm in a single day.

Heavy downpour in short time was the problem in Mumbai, he added.

Mr Sarangi said it was due to the cleaning and widening of the Mithi river by BMC and MMRDA that there was no threat of flood in Mumbai. He said a major part of widening was done at Mahim causeway and hence the flow of water into the sea was quick. Earlier, slum localities like Bharat Nagar, Kalina Kalvat, LBS road, Vakola, Nala Supara, Saki Naka, Filter Pada, Shantinagar were submerged in flood water. Yesterday, these areas were free of water logging.

Only in the Kranti Nagar which was close to the Mithi river banks and in the low lying area, there was rain water. Even though the Powai lake is over flowing, there is no water logging and the rain water is flowing into the river.

He said the Mithi river was not flowing at the danger level mark.

The danger level at Mahim causeway is three meter and the water was flowing at 1.7 meter while at the CST bridge the danger level is 2.5 meter and the actual flow of water was 2.1 meter.

Meanwhile, 28 people have been reportedly killed in rain-related incidents so far, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Dr Patangrao Kadam said.

Addressing a press conference here, Dr Kadam accompanied by Chief Secretary Dr D K Shankaran said the district collectors have been authorised to disburse Rs one lakh to the families of the victims.

He said in Mumbai nine people had died, ten in Nagpur, five in Nashik and four in Amravati.

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