UAE Rains: Strong Plant Dewatering & Ground Engineering Emerges As A Crucial Support To Dubai

With Dubai witnessing the heaviest recorded rainfall in last 75 years on April 15, most people were advised to stay home. But braving all odds were a few out who kept the city going after the worst was over. It is companies like Strong Plant who have supported the emirate to get back to its toes.

Strong Plant Group, a 30-year-old company, is amongst the leading experts in Design, Dewatering, Piling and Infrastructure Facility Management Services with the family’s geotechnical expertise since early 1960's. Having successfully executed projects in Middle East and India, the company has been a leader, pioneer and innovator in its field having many firsts to its credit — being the first to work on Palm Jumeirah and most of new Dubai as well as design and execute turnkey critical Permanent Underground Ground Water Lowering Systems in key Dubai communities with high ground water table. The company also was the first to perform seva and commence construction at the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi.

Post-rains, Dubai authorities were quickly able to manage the situation with support from dewatering solutions company Strong Plant, based in Dubai, headed by Ashish K. Desai, who personally took lead and deployed teams before and after April 15 rains who continue to work round the clock. In doing so has emerged as a key player in the city's recovery efforts.

Under the leadership of Desai, who is a proud Dubai, UAE, born and bred engineer and entrepreneur, he highlights that “he owes everything to this amazing city and country”. This dedication to the nation was seen is the company’s latest feat of bringing the city back to it feet.

On Tuesday, Strong Plant mobilized additional teams immediately following the storms on April 15, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to the community by working continuously to mitigate the impacts of the rainfall. The company has notably secured rain mitigation contracts for some of Dubai's most prestigious communities, working in close coordination with city authorities including the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Civil Defence (DCD), and Dubai Municipality (DM).

Responding to crisis and aftermath

Facing the aftermath of the storm, the company confronted substantial challenges, including inundated roadways and damaged equipment, yet the resolve of its team never wavered. Remarkably, Strong Plant has provided its services without any Commercial confirmations, prioritizing the well-being of the affected areas over immediate financial gain.

The company's extensive array of pumps and the expertise of its workforce have been instrumental in the dewatering process, significantly aiding the city's recovery efforts. Renowned for its expertise in dewatering and piling services, serves as a crucial partner to many of Dubai’s major developers, contractors, and semi-government agencies such as Nakheel, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Al Wasl, Meydaan and DIP.

With a vast reservoir of resources, equipment, and skilled manpower, Strong Plant was pre-emptively mobilized to safeguard communities against the storms. Communities such as JVC, JVT, Al Furjan, Jumeirah Park, Discovery Gardens, and Jumeirah Golf Estates were among those receiving pre-emptive interventions to ensure their safety amid the heavy rainfall.

The storms caught many by surprise, pushing the limits of preparedness and response. Strong Plant’s team, drawing from its extensive experience and capabilities, was among the first responders to the Nakheel requirements. From the onset of the storms, the entire team personally lead by Ashish Desai, supported by a comprehensive fleet of resources, worked tirelessly across various sites. Their efforts were not only focused on reducing flooding in several communities but also on preserving lives and assets, ensuring there were no casualties amid the crises.

The challenges posed by the storms extended beyond the immediate response. With many ongoing dewatering projects, Strong Plant’s teams were stretched across the UAE, ensuring that each site remained operational to prevent structural damage to ongoing construction projects.

Desai stated, "We have also been given responsibilities that are beyond our contract and scope and only because we are reliable partners who always deliver.”

Collaborative efforts

Desai highlighted the crucial part of key players RTA, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Civil Defence and DEWA, with the private sector represented by semi government communities’ operations teams in liaising with Strong Plant’s management in this dire situation. This partnership has underscored the importance of teamwork and swift action in times of crisis.

"When we learned of some critical flooding, we voluntarily called RTA to offer our services to ensure quick flood mitigation in key arterial roads. We thank RTA for providing dedicated access and escort to some of our trailers and vehicles to reach critical areas where non running systems would have resulted in unimaginable disasters. Even semi government agencies’ top management was constantly involved to facilitate this."

Non-stop work for 72 hours

Desai reiterated that over the recent days, teams working on-site have faced extraordinary challenges due to severe flooding, highlighting their resilience and dedication. He noted that key personnel have reported to work tirelessly for up to 72 hours non-stop, navigating through inundated areas to ensure the continuous operation of water pumps. The conditions described are nothing short of dire, with vehicles stranded, access roads submerged, and the necessary technical equipment, fuel, and provisions having to be delivered through waist and chest-high waters.

"Our vehicles and dewatering systems kept breaking down, technicians worked round the clock since day 1, most teams were not being replaced owing to floods in our workshop area, camp area in Al Quoz. Our huge fleet in site was underwater and have suffered colossal damages. The battle with insurances companies shall be another uphill battle as client generally don’t support these damages as they believe it's part of our jobs. But we strive to retrieve these submerged pumps and repair them to the best our abilities to put them back in service to help other areas and clients."

The War Room

Strong Plant’s operational center, referred to as the 'War Room,' has become a crucial hub for coordinating the extensive relief efforts across the flood-hit regions. Despite the extensive damage to resources, which will only be fully understood once the operations conclude, the teams remain committed to their mission, Desai said.

Amidst these challenges, there's also a personal note of regret from Desai for not being able to allocate resources to affected areas near their own homes, such as the MOE Interchange and Times Square Interchange or even help friends and families. “We have not slept since April 15. We are all at it.”

HSE at the helm

In light of recent heavy rainfall, emergency response teams have been at the forefront, working tirelessly to mitigate the impact on affected areas. Desai highlighted the extraordinary efforts undertaken by Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) officers and their teams to safeguard both the workforce and the city. Utilizing advanced rain protection gear, these teams have maintained efficiency across all operational sites, despite challenging weather conditions.

The dedication of these teams has been paramount, especially as many workers faced adverse conditions, being stranded in floods for prolonged periods ranging from 24 to 72 hours. The provision of continuous medical support and rest periods has been critical in ensuring the health and well-being of the team members, allowing them to return to their duties rejuvenated and ready to continue their important work. Desai says he can’t thank enough the dedication of his management team as well as the ground team upto the last unskilled worker. They are the real heroes of Strong Plant.

Immediate Response and Future Plans

In response to the rising demand for dewatering solutions, the company revealed its attempts to acquire additional pumps. Determined to maintain ethical practices, the company has decided to maximize the utilization of its existing fleet to aid as many affected areas as possible. The inundation of requests for help has come from various quarters, including Sharjah and numerous families reporting significant water intrusion in their homes.

One of the most pressing concerns highlighted was the flooding of basements in several buildings, leading to extensive damage to vehicles. The company has pledged to extend its services to as many victims as it can manage in the coming days.

As Dubai continues to navigate the aftermath of this unprecedented weather event, the efforts of companies like Strong Plant and their collaborative work with local authorities underscore the collective resolve to restore and rebuild the affected communities. Their dedication not only aids in the immediate recovery but also contributes to the long-term resilience of the city, ensuring it is better prepared for any future challenges.

In the end, Desai says that times like these show your true character and service commitment and hopes that the concerned authorities recognise the genuine first responders like Strong Plant.