PCMC chief orders joint inspection with MIDC officials to identify clogged drains in Bhosari

Pune: Nearly a year after the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) promised to clear encroachments on nullahs in the Bhosari MIDC area, the issue remains unresolved. With the monsoon approaching, civic chief Vijay Suryawanshi has issued fresh directives to tackle the chronic waterlogging problem.Reviewing the condition of drainage channels in the industrial belt on Monday, Suryawanshi ordered officials to identify encroached and blocked nullahs for immediate clearance. He has mandated joint inspections involving PCMC officials, the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), and representatives of affected companies to pinpoint obstructions and initiate corrective measures.The urgency stems from the chaos of June last year, when heavy rainfall caused severe flooding across several industrial units in Bhosari MIDC. Many businesses suffered massive financial losses due to damaged machinery and were forced to suspend operations for several days. At the time, civic officials blamed the disaster on clogged drains and illegal structures built over natural water channels. Despite issuing notices and promising a comprehensive survey, little progress has been made on the ground over the past ten months.Addressing the issue after Monday's meeting, Suryawanshi said, "Several natural drains recorded in old maps have either been encroached upon or completely covered by companies, obstructing the natural flow of water. This creates a high risk of flooding for both industrial units and nearby residents."The commissioner instructed officials to document every violation and restore the original structure of the drains where possible. "In areas where restoration is unfeasible, we must implement alternative measures, such as laying new stormwater drainage lines. Companies responsible for blocking these channels will be held accountable and must remove the obstructions," he added.The Bhosari MIDC area is divided among four PCMC ward offices, with the most severe blockages reported in the C and H wards. While notices were served to encroaching units last year, industrial leaders said the follow-up was inadequate.Sandip Belsare, president, Pimpri Chinchwad Small Scale Industries Association, criticised the previous efforts as inconsistent. "The action taken last year was limited. While some encroachments were removed, many were ignored, and some have already reappeared. We need sustained monitoring to ensure these drains stay clear," Belsare said.Belsare, whose own unit was flooded last year, also highlighted lack of maintenance. "Inadequate desilting is a major factor. If deep cleaning isn't completed before the first rain, the drains simply cannot handle the volume of water," he said.In a separate session on Sunday, the civic chief also reviewed city-wide pre-monsoon preparedness. According to data from the health department, desilting is currently underway across 145 nullahs, covering nearly 95,000 metres. Officials said around 47% of the work is complete, with efforts being intensified to meet the monsoon deadline.Current status of Nullah cleaning in Pimpri ChinchwadTotoal Nullahs 145Length : 94,913 metres47.34% cleaning work has been completed and work is ongoing for the remaining 53%
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