Kolkata: A couple of smart showers in a short duration, which led to severe waterlogging in several neighbourhoods, have kept the KMC drainage department officials on tenterhooks. The department is in need of around 500 portable pumps, a majority of which are hired before the monsoon sets in every year.Besides its own stock, the civic body heavily depends on the hiring of such pumps during every monsoon. But sources in the KMC said the process of hiring this year had been extremely slow since the approval from the finance department was being given in phases. Drainage department officials are keeping their fingers crossed as if it pours again, these portable pumps are the only way to flush out stormwater from residential areas, hospitals and commercial areas.A KMC official pointed out the civic body’s helplessness in giving patients relief from waterlogging at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last week when the campus was inundated after a downpour. The patients had to wade through ankle-deep water to get to various departments as stretches between the hospital blocks remained flooded for most part of the day. While the patient wards and the OPD counters were relatively dry, storm water had entered ground floor rooms in the surgery department, which also houses some offices.Similarly, the civic officials are worried over large areas in Behala that have been dug up for a drainage upgrade project under KEIIP. “We are particularly worried over large areas in Behala that include Parnasree, Barisha, Shakuntala Park and Joka. Of these areas, large stretches of Shakuntala Park need special attention. If we are not allowed to hire pumps on time, we won’t be able to give citizens relief from waterlogging,” said a KMC official.According to the civic official, besides Behala zones, residents in large parts of neighbourhoods and hospitals off EM Bypass are also dependent on portable pumps during monsoon for flushing out stormwater. Several such neighbourhoods still don’t have a proper sewerage system and hence portable pumps are the only relief. However, sources in the KMC maintained the finance department was not averse to releasing the files provided replies to some queries were met. “The finance department has asked the drainage department to explain a clause in the agreement with the private agencies from whom the portable pumps are hired,” said a KMC official.
