Opposition parties in PMC say waterlogging across city a ‘wake-up call’ for BJP-ledcivic body, demand elaborate measures ahead of monsoon

Pune: Opposition leaders from the NCP and Congress in the PMC have labelled Thursday's severe waterlogging a "wake-up call" for the BJP-led civic body. Corporators from these parties have now demanded urgent, comprehensive measures to prevent further flooding during the monsoon.Nilesh Nikam (NCP), the leader of the opposition in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), stated that the citywide waterlogging is a clear failure of both the administration and the ruling party. He noted that while a meeting was held a month ago under the chairmanship of the mayor to discuss monsoon preparedness, there has been little visible progress on the ground. He argued that the back-to-back heavy showers, which left commuters stranded, have exposed a glaring lack of adequate precautions.According to a PMC report, approximately 200 locations across the city faced significant waterlogging. These included major road stretches, open areas, and housing societies. In many areas, citizens struggled to navigate through knee-deep water."Significant amounts of garbage have flowed into stormwater channels and drains, which appears to be a major reason for the clogging," Nikam said. "This proves that daily road sweeping and waste collection have not been up to the mark. While the administration claims pre-monsoon works are underway, the BJP leadership must share specific details regarding the work completed so far and the measures planned for the coming month."Meanwhile, Congress leaders expressed apprehension regarding the quality of the pre-monsoon work. A senior party leader pointed out that the administration has accepted tender proposals at rates significantly lower than the estimated quotes. "Low-value tenders almost certainly guarantee inferior quality. The BJP faces a massive challenge in ensuring the city does not remain submerged throughout the rainy season," the leader added.Further allegations of financial mismanagement were raised by former senior corporators Ujjwal Keskar and Suhas Kulkarni. The duo alleged corruption in projects designed to tackle flood-prone spots, noting that approximately Rs125 crore has been spent under National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) projects. They argued that the recent flooding is a clear indication that these funds were not utilised effectively. They also flagged the "unrealistically low" tender rates for cleaning drains and stormwater channels as a major area of concern.Additionally, corporators from various wards have called for immediate and regular monitoring of drains to prevent choking during heavy downpours. Specifically, representatives from Katraj, Vadgaon, and Bavdhan areas reported severe waterlogging in open drains along the Katraj-Dehu Road bypass, urging the administration to act before the next major spell of rain.