Waterlogging was reported in various parts of the city including Garware Bridge, Prabhat Road, J M Road, Apte Road, RTO, Kothrud, Yerawada, Sahakarnagar, Satara Road and Solapur Road.
Waterlogging in Peth areas resulted in traffic jams and commuters also faced major problems at Anandnagar, Vitthalwadi and Sun City road. Civic fire bridge officials said they received four calls from Katraj area about uprooted trees and water gushing into houses. Incomplete road works in Sahakarnagar, Satara Road and other areas caused major problems to commuters and minor accidents were reported from these parts.
Every year, the PMC initiates pre-monsoon works including cleaning up of storm water drains and nullahs. This year, officials had claimed that measures had been taken to prevent waterlogging.
“PMC’s pre-monsoon preparedness claims have become an annual ritual. Every year, the PMC assures that citizens will not have to put up with overflowing drains, waterlogged roads, uprooted trees, traffic jams and potholes, but the assurance is washed away in the beginning of the season itself. This year is no exception,” said Rekha Lad, a housewife.
According to the PMC first few showers lead to silting in drains and that causes waterlogging. Ward officers are asked to clean stormwater drains and keep sewage drains flowing, said Yuvraj Deshmukh, PMC’s executive engineer with road department. “Debris gets washed away in storm water drains and culverts during first few showers. Also plastic bags and garbage enters storm water drains. This results in waterlogging. PMC is continuously cleaning these spots. Ward offices have formed special teams to keep a watch on regular waterlogging spots,” he said. Deshumukh added, “Even if the water stagnates, it is in very small quantity. It recedes within 30 minutes. The road department did not receive any major waterlogging complaint.”
It is a chronic problem
Members of the Architecture Engineering Division of the Institute of Engineers have pointed out that cement and asphalt roads leave no scope for the water to permeate, resulting in water getting clogged at certain spots. They observed that most of the city roads do not have proper slopes and drains.
Even the existing storm water drainage facility is ineffective during heavy rains because of the narrow width.
The existing network of storm water drains has a capacity to handle only 56 mm rainfall. The lack of sufficient storm water drains has led to many waterlogging incidents over the last few years and the PMC needs Rs 2,000 crore to redo the network to tackle heavy showers.
After widespread waterlogging following heavy rains in 2010, the then PMC chief Mahesh Zagade had ordered zonal commissioners to identify locations where sewage lines met storm water drains, resulting in overflowing. However, the orders remained on paper. The PMC has in the past admitted that at many places, sewage lines are linked to storm water drains, leading to overflowing of drains during heavy downpour. This not only results in waterlogging but also poses a health risk.
Minor landslide
A minor landslide was reported just before the new Katraj tunnel along the Pune-Satara highway, following which traffic on the road was halted for a short period, the highway police said. Vehicular traffic resumed soon afterwards but moved at a slow speed till late evening, the highway police said.
Waterlogging in Peth areas resulted in traffic jams and commuters also faced major problems at Anandnagar, Vitthalwadi and Sun City road. Civic fire bridge officials said they received four calls from Katraj area about uprooted trees and water gushing into houses. Incomplete road works in Sahakarnagar, Satara Road and other areas caused major problems to commuters and minor accidents were reported from these parts.
Every year, the PMC initiates pre-monsoon works including cleaning up of storm water drains and nullahs. This year, officials had claimed that measures had been taken to prevent waterlogging.
“PMC’s pre-monsoon preparedness claims have become an annual ritual. Every year, the PMC assures that citizens will not have to put up with overflowing drains, waterlogged roads, uprooted trees, traffic jams and potholes, but the assurance is washed away in the beginning of the season itself. This year is no exception,” said Rekha Lad, a housewife.
According to the PMC first few showers lead to silting in drains and that causes waterlogging. Ward officers are asked to clean stormwater drains and keep sewage drains flowing, said Yuvraj Deshmukh, PMC’s executive engineer with road department. “Debris gets washed away in storm water drains and culverts during first few showers. Also plastic bags and garbage enters storm water drains. This results in waterlogging. PMC is continuously cleaning these spots. Ward offices have formed special teams to keep a watch on regular waterlogging spots,” he said. Deshumukh added, “Even if the water stagnates, it is in very small quantity. It recedes within 30 minutes. The road department did not receive any major waterlogging complaint.”
It is a chronic problem
Members of the Architecture Engineering Division of the Institute of Engineers have pointed out that cement and asphalt roads leave no scope for the water to permeate, resulting in water getting clogged at certain spots. They observed that most of the city roads do not have proper slopes and drains.
Even the existing storm water drainage facility is ineffective during heavy rains because of the narrow width.
The existing network of storm water drains has a capacity to handle only 56 mm rainfall. The lack of sufficient storm water drains has led to many waterlogging incidents over the last few years and the PMC needs Rs 2,000 crore to redo the network to tackle heavy showers.
After widespread waterlogging following heavy rains in 2010, the then PMC chief Mahesh Zagade had ordered zonal commissioners to identify locations where sewage lines met storm water drains, resulting in overflowing. However, the orders remained on paper. The PMC has in the past admitted that at many places, sewage lines are linked to storm water drains, leading to overflowing of drains during heavy downpour. This not only results in waterlogging but also poses a health risk.
Minor landslide
A minor landslide was reported just before the new Katraj tunnel along the Pune-Satara highway, following which traffic on the road was halted for a short period, the highway police said. Vehicular traffic resumed soon afterwards but moved at a slow speed till late evening, the highway police said.
Source : Pune Mirror 10.06.2013
