Greens flay PMC'S flood action plan

Environmentalists say flooding is inevitable this year because the civic body's much-publicised plan comprises little beyond old and ineffective strategies

Environmentalists are raising serious doubts about the feasibility of the Pune Municipal Corporation's (PMC) Flood Control Action Plan (FCAP). The civic body has appointed 106 dedicated personnel who will take orders from a Flood Control Cell in the PMC building, which offers a clear view of the areas affected by the monsoon deluge in the city.



However, environmentalists feel the plan will be of little help to citizens who live on the banks of the Mula-Mutha river. Sharad Mahajan, director, MASHAL, an NGO that had conducted a survey of city slums under the PMC, said, "Around 4,000 families, who comprise around 30 per cent of hutment dwellers in Pune, are affected by the floods every year. The PMC took all the steps they are taking this year in the past as well, and it did not help. What is the point in going on doing things that don't work?"

Mahajan added, "The PMC should learn from the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), which solved the problem by constructing permanent structures for the residents of the flood-prone Milind Nagar slums in Chinchwad. PMC would do well to take such steps and not waste its time, energy and money on the same ineffective evacuation drill."

Noted environmentalist Vijay Paranjpe said the PMC has not learnt its lesson. "The Rs 250 crore Jawaharlal Nehru Renewal Urban Metropolitan scheme to maintain the river area has not been implemented. Nothing that is being done can stop the monsoon flooding at the 12 trouble spots. These areas are bound to go underwater this time as well," said Paranjape.

Pravin Ashtikar, the deputy commissioner, PMC, insisted that the civic body was working hard to tackle monsoon flooding. "We have tied up with the irrigation department, district collectorate and electricity control board, and Rs 35 lakh have been earmarked for evacuation and flood-control activities," said Pravin Ashtikar, the deputy commissioner, PMC.