Despite claims of 100% completion, pre-monsoon work continues in areas such as Kothrud, Karve Road, Katraj, Ambegaon, Mangalwar Peth, Bhavani Peth, Shivane, and the NDA.
The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), Pune Metro, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), and Public Works Department (PWD) have been given until June 10 by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to finish pre-monsoon work within PMC limits.
Coordination Among Departments
PMC’s additional municipal commissioner, Prithviraj, held a pre-monsoon review meeting with stakeholders, including representatives from PMRDA, Pune Metro, NHAI, PWD, MSEDCL, water supply and road departments, and PMC’s drainage department officials. During the meeting, he urged all departments to collaborate and ensure the completion of pre-monsoon preparations by June 10.
Ongoing Efforts Despite Claimed Completion
Despite the declaration of 100% completion, work is still ongoing in multiple areas of the city. Pre-monsoon work includes cleaning nalas, drainage lines, stormwater drains, and chambers. The PMC initially set a deadline of May 31 for these tasks, but the work continues in several parts of the city. Cleaning operations began on March 26, 2024, following the issuance of 23 work orders to contractors. To date, all 116 critical culverts, 185 km of drainage lines, and priority drain cleaning have been completed.
Addressing Flood-Prone Areas
The PMC is particularly focused on addressing blocked streams and drains in densely populated areas like Kondhawe-Dhawade, Uttam Nagar, and Shivane, which are prone to flooding during monsoons. These areas are a priority to prevent the recurrent flooding that disrupts local settlements.
Incomplete Work and Instructions
Dinkar Gojare, superintendent engineer of the drainage department at PMC, highlighted ongoing pre-monsoon work from Kharadi to Wagholi, including the cleaning of box culverts, stormwater lines, and chambers. He also noted the incomplete tasks of the NHAI (from Balewadi to Katraj) and instructed the PMRDA to focus on cleaning nalas in critical areas to prevent waterlogging during the monsoon.
Specific Measures and Recommendations
The PMC has issued specific instructions to the PMRDA:
- Use iron stormwater chambers instead of cement ones on Ganeshkhind Road.
- Replace water pipelines near culverts.
- Level stormwater drainage chambers and drawing chambers to the road surface.
These measures aim to enhance the efficiency of the drainage system and minimize monsoon-related disruptions.
