Cut power & water supply if occupants of unsafe buildings don’t shift: KMC commissioner to civic officials at pre-monsoon readiness review meeting

Kolhapur: Municipal Commissioner Rajendra Bharud has directed civic officials to take strict action against residents living in unsafe and dilapidated buildings, including discontinuing water and electricity supply if occupants refuse to relocate despite prior notice.

Bharud issued these instructions during a meeting held on Tuesday evening to review pre-monsoon preparedness across the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) limits. Addressing the meeting, he said, “Divisional offices must ensure that the cleaning of drains and channels is completed on time. Concrete blockages in drainage chambers in problem areas should be removed and thoroughly cleaned and special camps should be organised for this purpose.”

He said in cases involving dangerous buildings pending in court, affidavits should be filed where necessary. “A detailed report on the number of buildings structurally audited and repaired should be submitted before the next meeting, and prompt action must be taken,” the commissioner said.

Bharud said the 30 locations where residents were relocated during last year’s floods should be inspected and equipped with necessary facilities. “Road repair and patchwork work should be completed before monsoon onset. Hazardous trees and poles must be removed. To address water-related issues, filters should be installed and water tankers kept ready,” he said.

The commissioner ordered that a 24-hour vigilance system be activated during floods. Officials were instructed to identify open spaces for parking vehicles and accommodating livestock in flood-prone areas, as well as designate safe locations for relocating affected citizens. He also called for the preparation of a comprehensive list of private boat operators, along with their contact details, and directed that tenders for essential supplies like medicines, water tankers and other material be completed in advance.

The meeting was attended by additional commissioners Ravikant Adsul, Shilpa Darekar, deputy commissioners Paritosh Kankal, Kiran Kumar Dhanwade, assistant commissioner Swati Dudhane, chief city engineer Ramesh Maskar, water engineer Harshjit Ghatge, deputy city engineers Mahadev Phulari, Suresh Patil, Niwas Powar, Arun Gujar, chief fire officer Manish Ranbhise, workshop head Sanjay Bhosale, environment officer Sameer Vyaghrambre, estate officer Sheetalkumar Salokhe and chief health inspector Jaywant Powar, among other officials.

On Wednesday, district collector Vijay Rathod and municipal commissioner Bharud inspected the ongoing pre-monsoon nullah cleaning works carried out by KMC at Venus Corner Gadi-Adda, Hutatma Garden and Pratibhanagar. The commissioner expressed satisfaction with the use of a ‘long boom’ excavator at Pratibhanagar.