Pune: The active phase of monsoon exposed chinks in the civic administration’s efforts to prevent inundation in waterlogging-prone areas.Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) received around 250 complaints after downpours caused localised flooding and infrastructural disruptions. Residents reported severe waterlogging on roads and inside building basements, largely caused by stones, garbage and floating debris choking the stormwater drainage grates. Trees and large branches collapsed across various neighbourhoods because of wind and rain, disrupting traffic and damaging property.The PMC administration had earlier identified 120 waterlogging-prone spots, including Shahir Amar Shaikh Chowk, Fatimanagar, Bhairobanala Chowk, Radha Hotel Chowk in Baner, North Main Road in Mundhwa, Tadigutta Chowk, Seven Loves Chowk, the stretch beneath Ruby Hall Metro station, Gunjan Talkies and Rajaram Bridge. Police also identified 26 highly flooding-prone areas.The civic officials claimed to have completely repaired 85 of the identified spots, but the heavy spell of rains exposed the reality. The police department and residents living around these spots said the situation on the ground had not improved significantly. Several citizens facing rain-related emergencies contacted the civic body’s round-the-clock control room at 020-25501269 or 020-25506800.“The PMC deployed emergency response teams and fire brigade personnel to clear blocked stormwater drains and remove fallen trees in response to the residents’ complaints. Pumps were used to drain out water from severely inundated housing societies and basements,” said Omprakash Diwate, the additional commissioner of the PMC.The civic official said the PMC had to evacuate vulnerable residents because of a massive water discharge at the rate of 27,203 cusecs from the 100% full Khadakwasla dam. A total of 492 families (1,560 citizens) were safely relocated from flood-prone areas like Shantinagar (Yerawada), Sainathnagar (Wadgaon Sheri), Patil Estate (Shivajinagar) and Bopodi to temporary municipal shelter homes.Manjushree Khardekar, the corporator of Ward Number 29, said there was severe waterlogging across several residential societies, slums and roads in Ward No. 29 (Deccan Gymkhana – Happy Colony) because of heavy rainfall over the last two to three days. He said the water was waist-high In some housing societies.“Unfortunately, we are facing significant difficulties in carrying out relief work because of a severe shortage of equipment. It takes several hours to drain water from a single location. By the time workers and machinery can be dispatched to the next site, residents are subjected to immense hardship,” she said.Khardekar said the civic administration should arrange for additional jetting machines, water pumps and manpower during monsoon to provide immediate relief to residents. A long-term plan should be formulated to prevent waterlogging in these areas in the future, and implemented promptly after consulting technical experts and specialised institutions, she added.Manasi Kulkarni, a resident of Kothrud, said the administration should focus on preventing garbage-dumping on the road. “Roads become slippery because of the dumped trash and rainwater. Locations like Kothrud depot have become accident-prone,” she said.
