The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has initiated dredging and desilting operations on the Bhairoba nullah, a critical stormwater channel within the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) limits, as the monsoon season approaches. This proactive measure aims to mitigate recurrent flooding in Wanowrie and surrounding cantonment areas.
Background and Coordination
A senior PCB official confirmed that the cantonment board requested PMC to undertake the work due to financial limitations. A senior Army officer from the Local Military Authority informed TOI that PMC will remove garbage and accumulated silt, and construct retaining walls along certain stretches. The officer stated, "The work is currently under way near the Wanowrie Bazaar area and will be extended to other sections."
Challenges in Execution
However, PMC officials acknowledged that completing the work along the entire stretch before the monsoon is unrealistic due to difficult site conditions. A site in-charge explained on Tuesday, "Executing work inside the nullah is extremely challenging. The water is already flowing, there is heavy garbage, and transporting construction material is very difficult. Each task is taking almost double the usual time."
Environmental concerns related to the nullah have persisted for years, primarily due to unchecked dumping. PMC has also planned the construction of retaining walls at select locations to address erosion and overflow.
Scope of Work
The ongoing work includes sludge removal, clearing plastic waste, widening bottleneck stretches, and restoring natural water flow ahead of the monsoon. The civic administration has identified multiple flood-prone locations across Pune as part of its pre-monsoon preparedness drive.
Resident Skepticism
Residents living along the nullah remain skeptical, noting that similar annual efforts have failed to provide lasting solutions. Nitin Jagtap of Wanowrie remarked, "Every monsoon, the water enters our lanes and parking areas. Authorities wake up only before monsoon. Once the season ends, nobody monitors the nullah."
Another resident, Farzana Shaikh, questioned the administration's long-term neglect. "It is full of plastic, debris and untreated waste. Cleaning it before monsoon is not enough. There has to be strict monitoring throughout the year," she said.
Broader Concerns
Activists have highlighted the broader issue of Pune's drainage infrastructure struggling under rapid urbanization. Recent PMC assessments acknowledge that several flood-prone spots across the city remain vulnerable despite annual desilting exercises.
