IN a statement reminiscent of US President George Bush's remark that India's middle class was responsible for the global food crisis, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has said that Mumbai's burgeoning population is responsible for the flooding woes of the city. The growing influx of outsiders is not only putting severe stress on the infrastructure of the city, but also proving to be one of the major reasons of increasing floods in Mumbai. This fact has been substantiated by the BMC, which has provided a chart of flood days since 1945. The chart, prepared by deputy municipal commissioner (retired) Sanglikar, shows that the number of flooding days have increased considerably since last 60 years due to burgeoning population even though the rainfall is same. The chart says the rainfall of above 75 mm has increased the possibility of floods in the city. However that was not the case 60 years ago. In 1945, there were 11 days of above 75 mm rainfall, but not a single day of flooding. The year 1949 saw only one day of floods after seven days of above 75 mm rainfall. On the contrary, in 2006, there were as many as 24 days of flooding when it recorded 18 days of above 75 mm rains. The year 2007 witnessed 12 days of floods after just eight days of above 75 mm rainfall.