Flood Mitigation Measures Stalled As Monsoon Looms

Nagpur: Nearly one and a half years after the devastating flash floods of September 23, 2023, which caused financial losses exceeding Rs 300 crore and affected 25,000 houses downstream of Ambazari Dam and along the Nag River, affected residents conducted a spot inspection of ongoing flood mitigation measures on Wednesday.
Residents from localities such as Ambazari Layout, Daga Layout, and Shankar Nagar assessed the progress of work undertaken by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and other agencies.
The construction of a wider bridge immediately after the spillway has been completed, but traffic remains one-way due to an incomplete ramp. The delay is attributed to obstructions by cables and lack of funds. Work on widening the river stretch near Krazy Castle has commenced, but it is expected to take another 6-8 months, making completion before the upcoming monsoon unlikely, a group of residents told TOI after reviewing the work-in-progress.
No significant work has been carried out on the river stretch passing through Ambazari Layout, where widening efforts remain pending, said local residents Gajanan Deshpande and Yashwant Khorgade. The widening work in Daga Layout and Corporation Colony is still in its early stages, and several houses along the riverbank could be displaced in the process, fear local residents.
They also noted no visible work near Shape Up Gym and Girls Hostel, raising concerns over bottlenecks.
"In certain parts of Shankar Nagar, the river width has narrowed, creating potential flood risks. No developmental activity was observed behind Wockhardt Hospital, Saraswati Vidyalaya, and City Mall," said Dr Archana Deshpande.
Some construction is visible in small sections of the riverbed near Canal Road, but progress remains inconsistent. Authorities, in an attempt to strengthen the railway bridge in Chhoti Dhantoli, have halved the river's width and constructed an additional road, creating a serious obstruction.
Despite the urgent need for flood mitigation, residents highlighted several reasons for the slow progress. The involvement of multiple agencies, including MahaMetro and NMC, is causing coordination issues. Administrative complacency and lack of urgency in initiating the work have also contributed to the delays. The failure to prioritise emergency flood prevention measures immediately after the disaster further hampered progress, pointed out Daya Layout resident Amod Deo. The delayed execution makes it difficult to accelerate work at this stage.
Residents also pointed out that while mitigation work has been slow, authorities are making concerted efforts to protect Swami Vivekanand Smarak. Tushar Mandlekar, another member of the residents' inspection team, alleged that the administration is deploying all possible resources to safeguard the memorial while circumventing provisions of the Irrigation GR by bringing in central technical agencies. Residents emphasised that with the monsoon approaching, delays could lead to another catastrophic situation. They have urged the authorities to expedite pending work to ensure safety and prevent further loss of life and property.
Citizens' Key Observations
Incomplete Infrastructure: While a wider bridge near the spillway was built, traffic remains restricted to one-way due to an unfinished ramp caused by cable obstructions and funding issues
Delayed River Widening: The widening of the river near Krazy Castle has started but will take at least 6-8 months, making completion before monsoon unlikely. Other stretches, such as Ambazari Layout and Daga Layout, remain untouched or are in early stages
Bottlenecks Persist: Narrowed river widths in Shankar Nagar and Chhoti Dhantoli, along with unaddressed obstructions near Shape Up Gym, pose a continued flood risk.
Neglected Areas: No significant progress was observed behind Wockhardt Hospital, Saraswati Vidyalaya, City Mall, and Canal Road, leaving vulnerable spots unattended
Poor Planning and Coordination: Multiple agencies, including MahaMetro and NMC, are involved, leading to delays and mismanagement. Officials failed to prioritise urgent flood prevention work post-disaster
Administrative Priorities Questioned: While mitigation work remains slow, residents noted that authorities are focusing heavily on protecting Swami Vivekanand Smarak, allegedly bypassing regulations to do so MSID:: 118387357 413 |