Pune, a city known for its vibrant culture and historical significance, is currently facing a crisis in its flood preparedness efforts. Despite receiving a substantial amount of Rs 250 crore from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is under scrutiny for allegedly misusing these funds intended for disaster management.
Since 2021-22, Pune has been receiving funds from the NDMA under the Urban Flood Risk Management (UFRM) project. However, recent floods in the city have exposed shortcomings in the effective utilization of these funds. Residents are expressing dissatisfaction over the perceived squandering of approximately Rs 250 crores, evident in the city’s inadequate protection against flooding.
Under the UFRM project, Pune receives Rs 50 crore annually from the Fifteenth Finance Commission to implement short and long-term flood mitigation measures. Despite these allocations, PMC’s mismanagement of disaster preparedness has been evident in the aftermath of recent floods, raising concerns about potential loss of life and property in future flood events.
The PMC had put forward a comprehensive disaster management plan, approved by the NDMA, with an allocated budget of Rs 286.7 crores under the UFRM project. However, the actual implementation of these measures has fallen short, particularly noted in the absence of field personnel during heavy rains before the monsoon season.
Furthermore, despite providing training to thousands of PMC employees, operational issues such as non-functional telephone lines in control rooms have been reported by citizens. Similarly, despite budgetary provisions for the purchase of essential equipment like rain gauge stations and CCTV cameras, the actual implementation status remains unclear.
Vijay Shivale from Surajya Sarvangin Vikas Sanstha in Pune raised questions about the completion timeline of Pune’s disaster plan, as expected by the NDMA. Ganesh Sonu, Head of the Disaster Management Cell at the PMC, assured that flood sensors have been installed at 50 locations in Pune city and essential items and equipment have been procured under Pune City Disaster Management.
It remains to be seen how the PMC will address the concerns raised by residents and ensure effective utilization of funds for disaster management in Pune.
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