Cleaning of 2 Kalamboli holding ponds held up

NAVI MUMBAI: The

sludge

removal work of two holding ponds in

Kalamboli

has been held up for around five years as

Cidco

is yet to receive

Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority

(

MCZMA

) permission.

The holding ponds in sectors 7 and 21 have not been cleaned since they became operationalised around 25 years ago. The holding ponds are crucial in saving the nodes from flooding due to heavy rains.

The Dutch dyke system based holding ponds hold sewerage water flowing to it. During high tide, the dyke gets automatically closed, not allowing sea water to flow into the pond. During low tide the dyke opens, allowing the sewage water from the holding pond to flow into the creek.

However, mangroves have been grown near the holding ponds. As per rule the mangroves area fall under the jurisprudence of MCZMA and Cidco is yet to obtain the former’s permission.

Cidco assistant executive engineer Sanjay Patil said, “The two holding ponds located in Kalamboli needs to cleaned to increase its capacity. We have been following up with the MCZMA to permit us to conduct the sludge removal work for the last five years.”

Reportedly, MCZMA is having staff crunch and also laid down several conditions for obtaining permission.