Pune, 25th August 2023: The Central Government has announced a substantial allocation of Rs 250 crore to the Pune municipal corporation (PMC) to tackle the flood situation exacerbated by heavy rainfall in the city. To this end, the central government has recommended revisions to the plan put forth by the municipal corporation.
The revised plan calls for a shift in focus from traditional water drainage systems towards implementing measures to effectively absorb rainwater into the ground. This encompasses strategies such as raising the groundwater level and facilitating better rainwater percolation.
Under the banner of the Urban Flood Risk Management Scheme, the Central Government has allocated a budget of 2.5 thousand crore rupees to mitigate flood risks in seven major cities including Pune, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad. The Municipal Corporation had originally formulated a proposal aligned with this scheme, which was subsequently submitted to the National Disaster Management Authority.
The proposed initiatives encompass a range of strategies such as excavating trenches on hillsides for improved water drainage, constructing culverts along flood-prone drain paths, employing drone technology for drain mapping, upgrading rainwater drainage systems at critical locations, establishing command and control centers to effectively manage flood situations, erecting gabion walls along drain routes, augmenting the deployment of rain gauges, and installing rain drains in both urban and rural areas.
In response to the proposal, the Central Government has advised certain modifications to the Municipal Corporation’s plan. Specifically, they recommend allocating a larger portion of the funds towards hill excavation, drainage infrastructure, park and open space development, embankment construction, and rainwater harvesting systems aimed at channeling rainwater into the soil.
Furthermore, there is a directive to reconsider the allocation of resources, emphasizing an increase in rain gutter installations and a corresponding reduction in expenditure related to traditional water drainage systems. Commissioner Vikram Kumar conveyed that the necessary steps are being taken in accordance with these recommendations.
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