Urban News

With the IMD forecasting heavy rains this month, encroachments along river banks continue to remain a major cause of concern. Though the number of encroachments has gone down over the years, there are still around 12,000 such structures along river banks at present.

The Pune division recorded 24 deaths last year because of heavy rains, including about 3 deaths in Pune city and the rural areas. Though the official date of the arrival of the monsoon is a week away, the pre-monsoon showers have already hit many parts of the city. The district’s disaster management plan in association with the two corporations as well as the municipal councils will be implemented from June 1 to October 15.

Resident Deputy Collector Anil Pawar, the CEO of the District Disaster Management Authority, said that a proper plan has been chalked out and presented to the Chief Minister.

However, the efficacy of the plan and better coordination remains under the scanner.

Sachin Warghade, a research associate from Prayas said, “Three years back in an RTI application, we had found that the state government’s plan on their official website was a nine-year-old outdated one. Unless signed and scrutinised by an appropriate authority, there is no use of these disaster management plans.”

Kishore Shinde, an activist from Paud village said that their villages get submerged in water every year during the monsoon. “Even as there are walls built, this continues to be a yearly affair and the villagers have come up with their disaster management plan ahead of the monsoons,” he said.

 According to the District Disaster Management Authority there are 89 villages in the district which come under the flood prone areas of which nine are the most flood prone.

With the two helpline nos 1077 and 26122114, the district disaster management authority has also coordinated with the National Disaster Response Force for the availability of boats and other first aid requirements as well as lifeguards.