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PMC’s Monsoon Preparedness Falls Short as Rainwater Floods Roads
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is facing severe criticism after the first spell of monsoon showers exposed the inadequacy of its monsoon preparedness claims. Despite the civic body’s assurances of thorough cleaning and repair work before the onset of rains, many roads in the city remain inundated with rainwater.
Before the monsoon, the PMC undertook cleaning activities for nullas, chambers, and culverts, as well as the repair and construction of storm drains. However, the hasty completion of these tasks has left many drainage chambers improperly constructed, leading to water accumulation and raising doubts about the actual cleaning of the drains. Despite the PMC’s claims of 100 percent completion of pre-monsoon works, the waterlogged areas of the city tell a different story.
The construction of rain channels and drains in certain areas aimed to prevent waterlogging on the roads. However, poor workmanship has caused water to accumulate on the roads instead of flowing through these storm drains. The lack of attention to road slopes in relation to the monsoon drain manholes indicates a failure on the part of PMC officials to monitor the work effectively.
Coordination issues between different PMC departments have also become apparent, as sewerage covers were installed too closely together in some locations. Such instances highlight the need for better coordination among the road, drainage, electricity, water supply, and other departments involved in municipal works.
The PMC had earlier boasted about the cleaning and maintenance of the city’s 165-kilometer-long drains, but the current situation contradicts these claims. Ponds of water have formed on roads due to the heavy rainfall, and stormwater drain chambers are not effectively preventing water accumulation, rendering them ineffective.
Vivek Velankar, president of Pune’s Sajag Nagarik Manch, expressed concern over the worsening condition of the stormwater drains and urged immediate action against responsible contractors and municipal officials. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive survey of waterlogged areas and appropriate measures to address the issue.
Dr. Kunal Khemnar, additional commissioner of PMC, defended the monsoon works but acknowledged that punitive action had been taken against contractors in response to citizen complaints.
Additionally, the PMC’s efforts to repair pothole-ridden roads by issuing tenders exceeding Rs 300 crore have faced delays, with many projects yet to commence. The inability to carry out the repairs during the monsoon has led to puddles forming on unrepaired roads, causing further inconvenience to citizens.
As the monsoon season progresses, the PMC faces mounting pressure to rectify the situation and deliver on its promises of effective monsoon preparedness and infrastructure maintenance. It remains to be seen how the civic body will address these challenges and restore the city’s infrastructure to withstand the rigors of the rainy season.
