Pune: Ekta Nagari Residents to Benefit from Redevelopment Plan Following Flooding Crisis
Sinhagad Road, 12th December 2024: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has taken an important step for the residents of Ekta Nagari on Sinhagad Road, an area affected by flooding five months ago due to the release of water from the Khadakwasla dam during the monsoon. Every year, flooding occurs in this area after the release of water, causing significant problems for residents. To address this, PMC plans to relocate the residents of this area and implement a cluster development project. The PMC administration has identified a site behind the planned police station in the same area for this purpose. The necessary process has already been initiated, and the work is expected to be completed in the coming days, providing significant relief to the residents.
During heavy rains in July, rainwater entered Ekta Nagari and surrounding societies on Sinhagad Road, exacerbated by the large volume of water released from the dam. The water reached the first floor of the buildings, causing great distress to the residents. The then-Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde, along with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Aditya Thackeray, and several other political figures, visited the site to assess the situation. Chief Minister Shinde instructed the PMC Commissioner and Pune District Collector to prepare a special plan for the rehabilitation of the affected residents.
PMC Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale had appointed a committee to study the flood situation in the Ekta Nagari area. The committee’s report was discussed in a meeting chaired by Dr Bhosale, where a detailed discussion took place on measures to prevent future flooding. It was decided that Ekta Nagari, which is frequently flooded after the release of water from the dam, will be relocated and redeveloped. A location near the planned police station in the area has already been identified for this purpose.
Senior PMC officials presented this proposal to the Maharashtra State Government. Providing further details, Dr Bhosale explained that floodwaters regularly enter the Ekta Nagari area. To prevent future flooding, it is essential to remove constructions within the blue flood line, making the relocation and redevelopment of Ekta Nagari necessary. Based on the committee’s recommendations, both long-term and short-term measures will be implemented. A proposal for the redevelopment of Ekta Nagari has been prepared, and further actions will be taken once it receives approval from the state government. City Engineer Prashant Waghmare has submitted the proposal to the Maharashtra State Government and expressed confidence that the project will be executed soon.
