Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Sunday instructed residents in flood-prone areas to be ready for relocation after water entered houses in some localities, including Ekta Nagari at Sinhagad Road, Khilare Vasti at Karve Nagar, and Pulachiwadi at Deccan, following heavy rain in the last 24 hours. If the situation did not improve, civic officials said, around 5,000 people could be moved to safety and the required manpower along with machinery were already in place. "Water had entered some properties.
But the situation is not alarming enough to begin evacuation ," Ganesh Sonune, head of PMC's disaster management department, said. Irrigation department officials said water was discharged from Khadakwasla dam at 35,310 cusecs on Saturday night and continued till Sunday afternoon when it was brought down to 26,345 cusecs. However, at 11pm, it was increased to 31,350 cusecs.
The average rainfall figure in 24 hours for catchment areas of the four dams in the Khadakwasla circle — Temghar, Varasgaon, Panshet and Khadakwasla — stands at more than 100mm. Increased water levels led to the closure of riverside roads, giving a tough time to residents and motorists on Sunday. The problem of backwater from the stream persists, causing damage to residential properties and shops, said Asmita Adsule from Ekta Nagari.
"Our family was the first to suffer in the flooding last monthh and we lost all our belongings. We have not got any help from authorities," said Ashok Sakat, another resident. Ganesh Mete, a shop owner in Sinhagad Road, said he has kept his establishment shut.
"The parking of the housing society has been flooded though water is yet to reach my shop. However, I have kept it closed," he said, adding his business was affected in July as well. Many residents of Pulachiwadi shifted their belongings out of their homes on Saturday.
"Authorities informed us that water levels in the Mula and Mutha rivers may rise. So, we immediately did the needful with the help of PMC workers present on the ground," Umesh Sathe said. The civic administration has distributed handouts alerting residents about possible evacuation.
A public announcement system is in place to share information about water discharge and likely flash flood in their areas. After the massive flooding at the end of July, PMC had shifted 2,655 people from 18 locations, including Phule Nagar, Shantinagar, Wakdewadi, Bopodi, Sangamwadi, Suncity, Vitthalwadi, Erandwane, Mundhawa, and Mangalwar Peth. The civic body had sought help from the Army and the National Disaster Response Force to deal with the situation.
The civic administration has in recent years identified 39 locations where the evacuation exercise will be carried out on a priority basis. The day-to-day needs of residents have been arranged at 41 municipal schools, officials said..
