Pune: Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol Pulls Up PMC Officials Over Flood Preparedness, Waterlogging
Pune, 7th July 2026: Questioning the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) preparedness to tackle recurring urban flooding, Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol on Tuesday sharply criticized civic officials over the city’s persistent waterlogging problems despite substantial funding from the Central and State governments.
Reviewing the city’s flood preparedness shortly after returning from New Delhi, Mohol asked officials how many waterlogging-prone locations had actually been eliminated over the past three years.
“When funds are available from both the Central and State governments, how many waterlogging spots have you reduced in the city over the last three years?” Mohol asked during the meeting, directing officials to ensure that no location in Pune continues to cause inconvenience to citizens during the monsoon.
PMC officials informed the meeting that improvement works had been completed at 85 of the city’s 120 identified waterlogging-prone locations. However, Mohol immediately questioned the effectiveness of these works, asking how many of those 85 locations remained free of waterlogging during recent heavy rainfall.
According to officials present at the meeting, they were unable to provide concrete data. Mohol then instructed them to present photographic evidence of all 85 locations during rainfall at the next review meeting.
The meeting was attended by Mayor Manjusha Nagpure, Deputy Mayor Parshuram Wadekar, Standing Committee Chairman Shrinath Bhimale, Group Leader Ganesh Bidkar, Leader of Opposition Nilesh Nikam, Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram, along with corporators and senior officials from various civic departments.
Highlighting the changing pattern of monsoon rainfall, Mohol said Pune has been witnessing shorter spells of much heavier rain in recent years, making it essential for the civic administration to upgrade its preparedness.
“As public representatives, we have to answer to the people. These issues must be resolved with a long-term approach. Rainfall patterns have changed, with intense rain occurring over shorter durations. What preparations have been made accordingly?” Mohol asked.
He assured officials that all necessary support and resources would be made available but stressed that the administration must ensure Pune residents do not face avoidable hardships during the monsoon.
Mohol also directed officials to operationalize the emergency control room on Sinhagad Road, increase the number of flood sensors along river stretches, and ensure ward officers make essential facilities available for residents at the local level during emergencies.
The Union Minister further instructed the civic administration to remain prepared for immediate pothole repairs, noting that intense rainfall over short periods could lead to rapid road deterioration. He also suggested introducing a dedicated WhatsApp number through which citizens can report potholes directly to the PMC for prompt action.
The review meeting comes after several parts of Pune witnessed severe waterlogging following heavy rainfall over the past week, despite the delayed onset of the southwest monsoon this season.
