Mumbai: Much to the relief of Vashi residents, the long-awaited Vashi sector 8 pump house reconstruction project finally received approvals after unprecedented delays. The project is pegged at Rs 37 crore, and the consortium has been allowed 18 months to complete the job. Work commenced in the midst of the extended monsoon following the approval of the technical proposal for computational fluid dynamics and model study on Oct 3, on the stormwater pumping station at the creek side of Vashi. The project secured final judicial clearance on Feb 6 this year from the Bombay High Court, having earlier obtained hydraulic design approval from the Indian Institute of Technology Mumbai on Sept 1. The proposal for the construction, erection, and operation of the stormwater pumping station was approved by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) general body meeting on June 29, 2019. Former Vashi corporator Divya Gaikwad raised the issue continuously between 2015 and 2020 in standing committee and general body meetings, emphasising the pump house’s importance to prevent frequent flooding in the commercial hub of Navi Mumbai. A tender for the work was published on Sept 19, 2019. But the Covid pandemic in March 2020 derailed the entire process and delayed the issuance of the work order until May 20, 2021. The original completion date of Nov 23, 2022, was extended to May 31, 2025, due to pandemic-related disruptions and other clearance issues. Further extensions were required to secure permissions from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority, Coastal Regulation Zone, and Creek Flamingo Sanctuary Eco Sensitive Zone, which later got the nod. In view of the monsoon and increased rainfall, another extension was granted until March 31, 2027, said an official. Gaikwad said, “After persistent follow-up at various levels, the work finally kicked off. Thanks to deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde and municipal commissioner Kailas Shinde for their support in expediting the project. I have requested civic administration to expedite the cleaning and desilting of all holding ponds in Navi Mumbai, which remains pending in the Bombay High Court, to prevent future flooding.”
