Monsoon audit: 50 junctions in Pune at risk of flooding, say civic activists

PMC’s failure to prepare for the monsoon has left Puneites to bear the brunt

The Pune municipal corporation’s (PMC) Rs 500 crore stormwater drain project is proving to be ineffective in curbing waterlogging at important road junctions in the city. According to civic activists monitoring the situation, there are more than 50 road junctions that are at risk of being waterlogged, leading to congestion and stagnant traffic. According to them, most of these road junctions were waterlogged for hours after rains lashed the city during past few days.

Lullanagar, a busy road junction, has been identified as being at risk of waterlogging by various civic activists. Though PMC maintains that it has finished 90 per cent of the stormwater drain works, the city is woefully unprepared to face the monsoon. (Shankar Narayan/HT PHOTO)

According to Kondhwa citizens awareness group, there were more than 15 road junctions spread over Mohammadwadi, Undri, NIBM, NIBM annexe , Salunke vihar and Wanowrie that were inundated as a result of the showers.

Saleem Mulla, a member of the awareness group, said, “We find it difficult to wade through the water and have seen senior citizens, women, and children falling into it. The PMC is not doing their job properly and we suspect that the contractor nexus is ruining the lives of citizens. We are requesting all forum members to actively participate in the ward-wise meeting and ensure that PMC does not take any decision unilaterally. Residents’ voices are of immense importance and has long been ignored by elected corporators and the bureaucracy ,” he said.

The NIBM annex citizens watch group has also prepared a list of road junctions in Mohammadwadi which are prone to waterlogging. They have marked spots on the road outside Dorabjee Mall, SM Ghule Patil chowk, Nine Hills road junction and Ganga Kingston-Krishnanagar link road.

According to the Dhanori residents association, waterlogging is acute on the road junction connecting Dhanori to Vishrantwadi , Vishrantwadi chowk, Lohegaon chowk road and Airport road.The association has also requested the state government to carry out a detailed analysis and review of the entire drainage system and demanded setting up of a world class stormwater drainage project.

“The elected representatives and their hidden meddling in civic contractors has led to this situation where inefficient infrastructure is being constructed, despite large amounts of money being spent from the tax payers pocket ,” said Sandeep D’ Souza , a resident of Laxminagar Society.

Mukta Tilak, mayor, Pune, has instructed the stormwater and road department to take necessary steps to prevent further waterlogging.

“We want all the issues to be sorted. The PMC is working towards giving better amenities to the residents,” she said.

Road junctions

Balgandharva chowk-JM road

Lullanagar chowk

Katraj-Kondhwa junction

Mohammad –Undri road junction

Jyoti Hotel chowk junction

Phulenagar road junction

Vishrantwadi road junction

Viman Nagar junction

Juna Bazar road junction

Raja Bahadur Mills road

Green Park hotel chowk, Baner

Babasaheb Ambedkar road

Is your locality unprepared to tackle the showers? Get in touch with:

Jagdish Khanore, superintending engineer, PMC

E-mail ID: jkhanore@punecorporation.org

Mobile No: +91 9689931925