Pre-Monsoon Review: 201 Flooding Hotspots Mapped in Pune, 84 Still Under Work; Action Promised Against Negligent Contractors
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 16th May 2025: As Pune braces for intense monsoon showers, Pune MP and Union Minister of State for Cooperation and Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol has issued a stern warning to contractors and municipal officials, directing the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to expedite pre-monsoon preparations and maintain quality standards. Contractors failing to deliver will be blacklisted, and officials found responsible for lapses will also face action, Mohol said during a press conference on Thursday.
Mohol conducted a detailed review of flood-prevention and monsoon readiness efforts alongside Municipal Commissioner Rajendra Bhosale, MLAs Bhimrao Tapkir and Hemant Rasne, BJP city president Dheeraj Ghate, and senior leaders including Ganesh Bidkar and Srinath Bhimale.
Focus on Rapid, Quality Pre-Monsoon Work
“In the past few years, we have witnessed heavy rainfall in a short span. This trend demands urgent, high-quality work to prevent urban flooding,” Mohol said, emphasizing that contractors who bag tenders but fail to perform will not be tolerated. “From now on, if non-performance is observed, those contractors will be blacklisted,” he added.
The minister said the PMC has floated 23 tenders for drain cleaning and 15 more for other monsoon-related works. Drainage cleaning, encroachment removal, and widening of stormwater drains were reviewed in the meeting. Mohol stressed that work at waterlogging hotspots should be completed swiftly to prevent citizen inconvenience.
Chronic Flood Spots and Action Plan
Pune currently has 201 chronic flooding spots, up from 117 earlier, after the inclusion of 22 merged villages. Work at 117 spots is complete, and cleaning operations are underway at 84 more. Temporary measures are being put in place at 39 locations where full-scale work cannot be completed before the monsoon, Mohol informed.
The Ambil Odha flooding incident in 2019 was also cited as a key learning point. “After that disaster, we widened and repaired drains between Katraj and Dattawadi, which prevented further issues,” he said.
Despite the absence of corporators in Pune, Mohol said MLAs and MPs are coordinating closely to oversee development and ensure accountability. “We have directed officials to prepare a ward-wise progress report of pre-monsoon works and fix responsibility at the individual level,” he said, adding that disciplinary action will be taken against employees failing in their duties.
Disaster Management and Funds
Mohol also reviewed disaster management preparedness and directed the PMC to take strict action against illegal encroachments obstructing water flow. He assured that efforts are underway to ensure the state government-approved funds for Pune are expedited by the central government.
Political Context: Grand Alliance Ahead of Elections
On the political front, Mohol confirmed that preparations for the upcoming municipal elections are underway, with the BJP expected to contest as part of the grand alliance (Mahayuti) led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. “Candidatures will be based on merit,” he said.
