Flooding of Pune roads : PMC Commissioner blames housing societies for concretising open areas

The storm water drains in the city do not have the capacity to carry the amount of water presently getting due to unexpected heavy rain, Bhosale said.

A normal view of NIBM extention near Tribeca highstreets next to Axis bank with no proper rain water drainage system which once rains this chamber overflows for many days. (Express photograph by Arul Horizon)

Facing criticism of citizens and political parties over flooding and waterlogging of city roads due to rain, Pune Municipal Commissioner Rajendra Bhosale said one of the major reasons for flooding and waterlogging in the city is concretisation of land in housing societies.

“We took a review of the recent flooding and waterlogging in the city due to heavy rains. I was informed that there is too much of concretisation in housing society lands which is leading to waterlogging and flooding,” he said.

Bhosale said there is no open land for water to percolate in ground. “There should be cooperation of all to resolve the issue of flooding and waterlogging. The housing societies should create trenches of bare land on their premises so that water percolates,” he said. The PMC will soon frame a policy for housing societies to not to concretise the complete ground in its area, he added.

The storm water drains in the city do not have the capacity to carry the amount of water presently getting due to unexpected heavy rain, Bhosale said.

The PMC is also identifying chronic spots and working to resolve waterlogging, he said, adding the diversion and closure of nullas will be probed.

On the incident of a girl drowning in a pit dug for road construction on Katraj-Kondhwa road, Bhosale said action will be taken against the contractor and civic engineer for not taking safety measures at construction site.

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune, a role that reflects his seniority and editorial Authority. He is a highly specialized journalist whose work demonstrates significant Expertise in the critical areas of urban development, governance, and sustainability, often linking policy to its on-the-ground impact across Maharashtra. Expertise Senior Editorial Role: As an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, Ajay Jadhav contributes to the editorial direction and maintains high standards of Trustworthiness and quality in his reporting. Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on the intersection of infrastructure, politics, and social development, with expertise in: Infrastructure and Civic Issues: Provides in-depth coverage of crucial development and urban governance topics. His work includes reporting on the glaring contrast between planned infrastructure projects (like private helipads) and the lack of basic facilities (schools and hospitals) in politically significant areas, highlighting accountability gaps. Politics and Governance: Consistently reports on political developments, scrutinizing decision-making that affects public life and development initiatives in Maharashtra. Sustainable Development & Environment: Demonstrates a commitment to responsible development by reporting on initiatives that successfully protect the environment while ensuring essential infrastructure development. Investigative and Policy Impact: National Impact: Ajay has written notable research articles on Conservancy staff which achieved a nationwide impact by directly contributing to the framing of policies aimed at improving the working conditions of waste-handling laborers. This demonstrates his capacity for impactful, evidence-based journalism. Additional Interests Personal Engagement: His background as a trekker and sports enthusiast suggests a keen personal interest in the environment and outdoor spaces, which likely informs his detailed and passionate reporting on sustainable development and civic issues. Ajay Jadhav's sustained focus on governance, his track record of high-impact policy-shaping research, and his critical eye for infrastructure gaps establish him as a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis in Pune and Maharashtra. ... Read More

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