Inspired by South Korea, BMC to install 25 floodgates along Mithi River for Rs 2,300 crore to prevent flooding
The 17.8 km-long river originates from the Vehar lake inside the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) and flows into the Arabian Sea through Mahim Creek, traversing areas like Bandra Kurla Complex, Dharavi, Kurla, and Vakola, among others. Most of these areas are low-lying and get flooded every year due to the overflowing river on heavy monsoon days.
Civic officials said the primary idea behind installing these floodgates is to prevent the river's overflowing water from entering residential areas and railway tracks. They added that the concept was inspired by floodgates used in South Korea – a country prone to frequent flooding and tsunamis.
These floodgates will be eight to 10 metres high and operate vertically, unlike the conventional floodgates that open horizontally. Additionally, these gates will also have dewatering pumps to channel out surplus water.
'Mithi River is narrow and doesn't allow us to use horizontal floodgates. Therefore, these vertical gates will also use less space and serve the purpose of water blockage. Another unique aspect will be that vertical gates will give us precise control on the water flow that will allow both complete blockage and regulated release of water,' an official told The Indian Express.
The officials said that the gates will be installed in the tidal zones starting from Mahim Creek and will go 8 km deep into suburban Mumbai. During high tide in monsoon, these gates will be deployed, and the inflow of water will be blocked. Meanwhile, a certain quantum of water will be pumped out either into the sea or could be transferred into holding tanks for reuse.
The areas that will get relief from flooding after these gates are installed include Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Taximen's colony in Bandra East, Dharavi, and Dadar.
'The project was first proposed in 2022; however, the design aspects were changed, and a new structure has been proposed. The tenders have been approved and will be floated next month. Last time, several international firms from countries like Korea, Japan, and Germany had shown their interest in this project,' the official said. He added that the project will take three years to complete once the work orders are issued.
In 2021, BMC installed two floodgates near the Mumbai airport from where the Mithi River flows. This move came after airline operations were hit during the monsoon owing to water entering the runway.
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