Pune: Ekta Nagari Citizens Still Await Flood Relief Despite Assurances from Leaders
Pune, 21st August 2025: Even as floodwaters once again entered homes and shops in Pune’s Ekta Nagari area, residents expressed deep anger and disappointment over unfulfilled promises of relief and rehabilitation.
Citizens recalled that on July 25, 2024, a major flood had submerged more than 100 houses and shops in the locality. Just weeks later, on August 19, 2024, water again entered three to four housing societies. Despite repeated assurances, no permanent solution has been implemented.
Residents said leaders including then Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Supriya Sule, MNS president Raj Thackeray, and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray had personally visited Ekta Nagari last year.
On that occasion, CM Shinde had announced plans to develop a rehabilitation cluster on the lines of Thane city and directed the Pune Municipal Corporation to submit a proposal. The civic body prepared the plan and sent it to the Urban Development Department—also under Shinde—but no decision has been taken to date.
Similarly, the municipal commissioner had promised to build a protective boundary wall or implement a riverfront development project to prevent repeat flooding, but no work has begun.
After last year’s disaster, the CM and DCM had announced an immediate panchanama of affected homes and shops, with compensation to be credited within two days. Citizens submitted Aadhaar details and bank account information, but claim that no funds were ever received. “Leaders came, gave us sympathy, assured us of help—but a year has passed and nothing has changed. We are still standing in floodwater today,” a frustrated resident of Ekta Nagari said.
Residents accused political leaders of visiting only for “political games”, questioning why neither cluster housing nor protective measures have materialized. They also vented anger at municipal officials, refusing to vacate their homes despite repeated evacuation appeals.
With a second consecutive year of flooding and no compensation paid, public discontent in Ekta Nagari is growing sharply.
