PCMC Issues Urgent Directives to Clear Bhosari MIDC Nullah Encroachments Before Monsoon
Nearly one year after the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) pledged to remove illegal encroachments on natural drainage channels in the Bhosari MIDC area, the critical issue remains largely unresolved. With monsoon rains approaching, civic chief Vijay Suryawanshi has now issued fresh, urgent directives to tackle the chronic waterlogging problem that devastated the industrial belt last June.
Joint Inspections Ordered to Identify Blocked Drains
Reviewing the condition of drainage channels in the industrial belt on Monday, Commissioner Suryawanshi ordered officials to immediately identify all encroached and blocked nullahs for clearance. He has mandated comprehensive joint inspections involving PCMC officials, the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), and representatives from affected companies to pinpoint specific obstructions and initiate corrective measures.
The urgency stems directly from the chaos of June last year, when heavy monsoon rainfall caused severe flooding across multiple industrial units in Bhosari MIDC. Numerous businesses suffered massive financial losses due to water-damaged machinery and were forced to suspend operations for several days. At that time, civic officials squarely blamed the disaster on clogged drains and illegal structures built over natural water channels.
Little Progress Despite Previous Promises
Despite issuing notices and promising a comprehensive survey following last year's flooding, little tangible progress has been made on the ground over the past ten months. Addressing the issue after Monday's crucial meeting, Commissioner Suryawanshi stated: "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 has instructed officials to meticulously document every violation and restore the original structure of the drains wherever 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 emphasized.
Industrial Leaders Criticize Inconsistent Action
The Bhosari MIDC area is administratively 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 have stated that follow-up action was inadequate and inconsistent.
Sandip Belsare, president of the Pimpri Chinchwad Small Scale Industries Association, criticized previous efforts: "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, whose own industrial unit was flooded last year, also highlighted the critical issue of inadequate maintenance. "Insufficient desilting is a major contributing factor. If deep cleaning isn't completed before the first monsoon rains, the drains simply cannot handle the volume of water," he explained.
City-Wide Pre-Monsoon Preparations Underway
In a separate session on Sunday, Commissioner Suryawanshi also reviewed city-wide pre-monsoon preparedness measures. According to data from the PCMC health department, desilting operations are currently underway across 145 nullahs, covering nearly 95,000 meters of drainage channels.
Officials reported that approximately 47% of the cleaning work has been completed, with efforts being intensified to meet the impending monsoon deadline. The current status of nullah cleaning in Pimpri Chinchwad includes:
- Total Nullahs: 145
- Total Length: 94,913 meters
- Completion Status: 47.34% of cleaning work completed
- Remaining Work: Ongoing for the remaining 53%
The renewed focus on Bhosari MIDC's drainage issues comes as authorities race against time to prevent a repeat of last year's devastating floods, which caused significant economic disruption and highlighted systemic failures in urban water management.
