Pune: Delays in Pune Flood Protection Projects Spark Demand for Probe into Civic Negligence
Pune, 19th July 2025: Mounting allegations of administrative negligence and project mismanagement have triggered a demand for a formal investigation into the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) handling of crucial flood protection wall projects. Despite receiving state funding, the civic body allegedly failed to act, leaving city streams and drains vulnerable as the monsoon rains intensify.
Ashwini Kadam, senior leader from the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) and former chairperson of PMC’s Standing Committee, has submitted a written demand to Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram, seeking disciplinary action against officials who reportedly misinformed higher authorities and cancelled approved tenders without valid justification.
The issue traces back to the severe flooding of Ambil Odha five years ago, which caused major damage to nearby residential colonies and infrastructure. In the aftermath, the state government allocated nearly ₹200 crore to build protective boundary walls along Pune’s vulnerable streams and nalas.
However, civic officials allegedly failed to verify the status of the funds, leading to the cancellation of tenders already floated for the project. Kadam has accused PMC’s drainage department of poor coordination and delaying tactics, which she says have put the city at further flood risk.
According to information from the District Collector’s office, at least ₹29 crore had been disbursed in phases for the flood wall construction. Yet, the PMC reportedly received this update only after a significant time lapse, by which point key decisions had already been reversed.
In her letter, Kadam pointed out that the PMC’s internal communication failure and unwillingness to proceed with available funds amounted to deliberate negligence. “The Ambil Odha flooding exposed the city’s vulnerability. Despite funds being sanctioned, officials in the drainage department chose inaction. An investigation is necessary to fix accountability,” she wrote.
The demand for flood mitigation measures has existed for years. During earlier general body meetings, corporators had insisted on quick compensation for flood-hit residents and urged the state to sanction funds for long-term preventive infrastructure.
The PMC had subsequently passed a resolution and forwarded a detailed proposal to the state government for constructing boundary walls not just along Ambil Odha, but across all major urban water bodies. While the funds were eventually cleared, poor coordination and decision-making at the administrative level appear to have undermined the project’s implementation.
