Pune: Maharashtra Govt Orders Urgent Drainage Study in Flood-Hit Hinjawadi
Pune, 3rd July 2025: In response to persistent flooding and crumbling civic infrastructure in Pune’s prominent IT hub Hinjawadi, the Maharashtra government has directed planning and industrial bodies to undertake a detailed hydraulic analysis and examine the viability of a stormwater drainage system across the area.
Ashwini Bhide, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, issued the directives during a high-level coordination meeting held in Pune on Wednesday. The review followed a detailed report submitted by Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) Commissioner Yogesh Mhase to the Chief Minister’s Office, outlining current challenges and proposed interventions in the Hinjawadi region.
Senior officials from PMRDA, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), and other related departments participated in the meeting. PMRDA Chief Engineer Rinaj Pathan confirmed that authorities had been instructed to immediately assess the technical feasibility of a drainage network covering Hinjawadi Phases I, II, and III.
Key Action Points Finalized
“The Public Works Department (PWD) and MIDC will jointly initiate the land acquisition process for essential roads and flyovers in the area,” said Pathan. “Temporary drainage paths will be created to divert stormwater, and pothole repair work will be conducted regularly until permanent solutions are implemented.”
To resolve ongoing waste management problems, MIDC has proposed setting up a 10-tonne-per-day solid waste processing facility. PMRDA has been tasked with locating an appropriate site and transferring the land to the local gram panchayat in Maan for construction.
Authorities have also been instructed to consult PCMC’s existing policy on natural drains (nullahs) and conduct a joint technical review. The aim is to formulate a unified and practical action plan for long-term flood mitigation and infrastructure improvements.
Illegal Encroachments Worsen Flooding
Commissioner Mhase highlighted that recent flooding was exacerbated by unauthorized diversions of natural water streams in multiple locations across Hinjawadi. “We have found at least 13 sites where developers and individuals have tampered with natural drainage paths, particularly in Phases I through III and near the Metro corridor,” he said.
“These disruptions have led to widespread waterlogging, damaged roads, and heavy traffic disruptions. FIRs will be registered against the violators within the next ten days,” Mhase added, following a series of site inspections carried out last week.
Emergency Measures Underway
Joint operations by PMRDA, MIDC, and PCMC have already begun to tackle the situation on a priority basis. These efforts include cleaning of stormwater drains, road repair works, removal of illegal vendors, and maintenance around key Metro station zones and IT offices.
Officials, however, admitted that continuous rainfall has caused delays in completing certain repair works.
Public Pressure Mounts
Mounting civic complaints from Hinjawadi residents and tech professionals have prompted elected representatives to demand urgent intervention. Baramati MP Supriya Sule recently wrote to the Chief Minister’s Office calling for immediate relief measures. Other local MPs and MLAs have also conducted site visits and follow-up meetings in recent days.
The administration has assured that all agencies will work in coordination to develop a sustainable infrastructure plan for the fast-growing IT corridor, which houses thousands of daily commuters and major corporate campuses.
