Citizens, Activists Launch Campaign for Flood Free Pune
Pune, October 28, 2020: Heavy to very heavy rains, sometimes cloudbursts; have become a norm in Pune since the last one decade, leading to sudden flooding of roads, of residential and commercial buildings and of neighbourhoods. This 2020 monsoon is no exception.
In order to raise a collective voice and amplify citizen power, senior journalist and activist Vinita Deshmukh, activists Sarang Yadwadkar, Vijay Kumbhar, Ravindra Sinha and Shehnaz Chawla along with leading corporate leader and public activist, Anu Aga and noted sportsperson and former Captain of Indian Hockey, Arnawaz Damania have launched the #Campaign for Flood Free Pune (CFFP). It was launched on 19th October.
The objective of the CFFP is to empower citizens to address their flooding problem in and around their houses/lanes/housing societies/neighbourhoods. Activist experts of CFFP will guide the affected residents of a particular housing society or neighbourhood, step by step, on how to register complaints with the civic or cantonment body and make the authorities to address and solve their issue. The objective is to put pressure on the authorities to ensure that the flooding is reduced or totally eradicated through their action. The concept of ‘All neighbourhoods for one neighbourhood’ will be implemented wherein citizens from other areas too will lend help to the affected citizens who are fighting a particular issue.
A press release from the organisers states, “While climate change may be the reason for excess rains, it is man-made factors like -closing of aquifers, nullahs, streamlets and rivulets during new constructions of buildings; making of concrete roads that inhibits percolation on the ground; illegal and irresponsible dumping of construction material and garbage on river banks and beds and; reclamation of water bodies in the name of development – that is creating havoc in most parts of Pune. The situation is so serious as to disrupt lives and homes of Puneites and has sometimes become life threatening too.
While there have been efforts by citizens to fight against the flooding due to the wrong doings or/and criminal negligence of the municipal corporations, cantonment boards and the state government, they have met with success only once in a while.”
CFFP will also address three critical issues that affect the citizens at large. The three issues are:
– Dumping of construction material and garbage along the river banks
– Procure from the PMC, the map that shows all the water bodies that have been closed due to construction etc
– Taking up one neighbourhood as a pilot project
The CFFP will meet thrice a month, every 10 days.
The next meeting of CFFP would be on Zoom (made live through Facebook) at 6.30 pm on Thursday, 29th of October.
Topic: #Campaign for Floods Free Pune (CFFP)
Time: Oct 29, 2020 06:30 PM India
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81549858400
Meeting ID: 815 4985 8400
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,81549858400# US (Chicago)
+13462487799,,81549858400# US (Houston)
Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
Meeting ID: 815 4985 8400
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kquw61lgb
Follow and connect with us on WhatsApp Facebook Twitter Linkedin YouTube Instagram
