Navi Mumbai, because of its location below the sea level, experiences inundation and water logging of the low lying areas, during high tides. The holding ponds which retained water have the problem of silting and growth of mangroves. To overcome the problem, adopting the Dutch Method, the Corporation renovated/constructed the holding ponds to increase its capacity. NMMC has provided high capacity pumping stations and replaced the old machinery. NMMC has also rebuilt civil structures and developed recreational facilities and fishing ponds. Today, the city is well equipped to meet the high and low tides, without disrupting the normal life.




Navi Mumbai was developed as a planned city as a counter magnet to Mumbai, with environmental infrastructure, social amenities, etc., by CIDCO. Its present population is over one million and has a capacity to house two million people. CIDCO prepared a development plan for Navi Mumbai consisting of 95 villages from Thane and Raigad Districts covering 343.70 Sq.km.

The city is bounded by Parsik Hill Range and Thane Creek. All villages located in the Thane Creek area are in the low lying area subject to high tide and flooding of area with rains(upto 3000mm) causing damage to life and property and life comes to a stand still for a few days.

Navi Mumbai consists of 29 villages located on hillocks. The area around villages was low-lying subject to logging during high tide. Saltpan and rice cultivation are undertaken in the low-lying areas. High tide level with respect to mean sea level is 4.5 meter. It was essential to reclaim the land atleast 3.5 m RL before CIDCO can start development of Navi Mumbai. Heavy sediment load occur due to highly erosive soils and there was decreasing capacity of ponds due to silting and extensive growth of mangroves, eating into the retaining capacity of the pond. The are used to experience "Backwater Effect" during the periods of high tide and t times resulting in flooding the new areas. There was frequent extensive water logging in the catchment areas disturbing the normal life for a few days. The devastating heavy rainfall in July, 2005 caused floods damaging properties and affecting normal life for few days.

Old pumping stations and civil structures requiring upgradation are present at some places like Belapur. The Mumbai and Thane Municipal Corporations discharge huge quantities of treated and untreated sewage containing harmful bacteria into the creek, endangering citizens in Navi Mumbai. 18 major nallas in Navi Mumbai discharge storm water and polluted water into the creek. There is growth of mangroves inside channels and storm water ponds. The High Court orders restrain the NMMC to carry out in the area.

In such situation, the initiative was taken up to overcome the problem of flooding low lying areas by making provision for retaining water during high tide in holding ponds and draining water into the creek during low tide and to develop storm water holding ponds with retaining walls. The key stakeholders are the local communities affected by high and low tides.

• Construction of Holding Ponds and bunds around them, as Ponds act as retention basin in normal condition and storage during high tide, help in avoiding water logging. Capacity designed in a way to hold water upto a period equal to the tidal duration.
• Provision of high capacity pumping stations to drain water during low tide.
• Putting in place control mechanisms for release of water through low lids.
• Construction of chambers for drain water during floods.
• Since storm water drains are required to construct below ground level, the reclamation level needs to be much higher than 3.5 m RL in order to avoid flooding of the whole area.
• An integrated drainage system in Navi Mumbai.

The initiative taken by NMMC covers all aspects of management of flood waters including draining the water during floods and to pumping water into the creek when they are full and during the low tide. The objective of the initiatives was to effectively manage the flood water during high and low tides and to ensure a water-logging free city.

• Installation of Pumping Station where needed.
• Upgradation of Old Pumping Stations including rebuilding of existing civil structures.
• Development of Fishing Ponds
• Development of recreational facilities by construction of footpaths around ponds, landscaping, tree plantation, gardening, boating, jogging tracks etc.
• Storm water management of Navi Mumbai was planned on the lines of the Netherlands and called "Dutch Method".

For the purpose NMMC has identified flood prone areas/points in 2006. NMMC has assessed capacity of holding ponds through pond bottom survey and development of contours and calculated de-silting requirements. It has removed all the obstructions like cables, pipes in the drainage system and undertaking minor construction works where needed. By undertaking engineering works, NMMC has increased the capacity of drains and modified them improper slopes. NMMC has replaced the pipe culverts with RCC Box type culverts and installed tide arresting gates at the outlet nallas. NMMC has replaced low capacity storm water disposal pumps with high capacity pumps.

NMMC has converted storm water ponds into fishing ponds and developing recreational facilities like providing footpaths, tree plantation, jogging track, gardening, etc. NMMC has also constructed STPs and diverting wastewater from residential areas to STPs. NMMC has also initiated the process to obtain permission for de-silting the Ponds from the High Court.

• Increased capacity of the Ponds to hold water during high tides.
• Increased capacity of pumping stations to drain out water when needed.
• Non-flooding of low lying areas and draining of water within hours without affecting the normal life in the city.
• Development of parks as recreational centers closer to the ponds. Retaining wall used by joggers regularly.

For further details, contact:

Municipal Commissioner
Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation
Belapur Bhavan, 1st Floor
CBD Belapur
Navi Mumbai - 400 614
Maharashtra
Ph: 022 - 27571095 (D) 27575700, 27571095
Fax: 022 - 27573785