Additional Municipal Commisioner Ajit Kumar Jain, who oversees the Solid Waste Management department, assured that this year, the rains will be `reasonably bearable.' ``Work is on in full swing to clear tonnes of garbage, debris and silt. Greater Mumbai has 944 kms drains and an additional 1875 kms of roadside drains. The conservancy staff of 35,000 conservancy staff and a fleet of 1,200 vehicles will b deployed. Every day, 600 metric tonnes of garbage and debris are being lifted from 5,600 collection points,'' informed Jain.

In eastern suburbs, the flood-spots are found near Chembur railway station, Thakkar Bappa Colony, Siddharth Nagar, Postal Colony. Floods from Kurla (west) floods rush into Kurla (east) via Nehrunagar nalla and get discharged into Mahul creek nearthe refineries, informs deputy engineer (eastern suburbs) M K Paradia.

Mumbai boasts of an intricate network of 480 kms of closed drains with 27,000 water entrances having 17,000 laterals or ducts connecting to main nallas or going directly go the three outfalls. Some 300 persons are employed with the city section to keep these water entrances clear the year round or in a choke-up situation.

Civic officials say the city's drainage was built some 70 years ago, when the numbers were far lesser. That apart, low lying areas get flooded more easily. When that happens, floodgates are closed to stop the sea water from coming into the city, they explained.

``It is not quite correct to blame the BMC all the time. People throw plastic and garbage which clog the drains. Wherever there is a choke-up in sensitive or chronic places where silt collects - like markets, railways, ST bus stands - where drain gratings are broken or dilapidated, complaints will be promptly handled,'' assured Jain. The nullahs that areexpected to carry storm water contain garbage and home wastes. ``At some points, there is no access, manually or mechanically, as homes are built bang on the bank of the nullahs,'' added an official.

Deputy chief engineer, Storm Water Drains (city), A G Pushparajan also claimed that the annual rite of monsoon at King's Circle will not be repeated this year. ``That was an unforeseen calamity. External material over a long time clogged the drains. Since it's a low-lying area, it is likely to get flooded, but the water will recede quickly this time.''

In 1990, a consultancy was appointed to study Mumbai's drainage system. In its report in 1993, it recommended an elaborate Rs 650 crores BRIMSTOWAD (Brihanmumbai Storm Water Drain) scheme to upgrade the existing network of pumping stations and underground nullahs and replacement of closed portions. So far, Rs 125 crore has been spent in the past 4-5 years. For example, near Alankar Cinema on S V Road, old archshaped drains built by the British are beingreplaced by double-barrel drains. BMC officials say a fund crunch is slowing down the work. Officials swear that the work will lead to a more affective sewerage system in the long run.

The Tree Authority will also trim roadside trees, informed Garden Superintendent K L Velodi. The authority will work in tandem with the Fire Brigade in case of accidents, he added.