Bodyguard Lines: Drainage pumping station announced

Kolkata: The sight of boats wading through the water-logged Bodyguard Lines (BGL) at Alipore have been a familiar feature in every rainy season whenever there is heavy rainfall.

However, residents of BGL have reasons to cheer with Mayor Sovan Chatterjee assuring that residents no longer need to use boats from next year.

"The Kolkata Municipal Corporation will come up with a drainage pumping station to prevent water logging at BGL. Draining water at BGL has always been a problem because of it being a low lying area. But the sight of boats wading through the water logged area will soon be a thing of the past. The pumping station that will come up will involve an investment of Rs 25 crore," Chatterjee said at the monthly meeting of the KMC responding to a query CPI(M) Councillor Bilquis Begum.

Begum had alleged that water remains accumulated for much longer time in wards 76, 77 and 79 in comparison to other parts of the city whenever there is

heavy rain.

Chatterjee had held a meeting with the top brass of the National Library recently to finalise things. The pipe line for draining the water will pass underground through the premises of the library before it will drain out at the Tolly Nullah adjacent to Alipore Women Correctional Home.

Even during this monsoon season when the drainage department KMC ensured draining of water at a fast pace in all parts of the city, there was waterlogging at BGL and on two days residents had to use boats for

communication.

Alipore Bodyguard Lines has battalions, barracks and housing for a reasonable number of police force in the state including Kolkata Police.

A new drainage pumping station will also come up at Golf Green with an investment of Rs

36 crore.