Every year, Pune faces the challenge of waterlogging and flash floods during the monsoon, largely due to clogged drains and inadequate stormwater management. Despite repeated assurances from the PMC, residents in several areas continue to suffer from overflowing drains, waterlogged streets, and property damage.
According to Ravindra Dhangekar, the PMC has not taken adequate steps to clean and desilt drains ahead of the monsoon, risking severe disruption to daily life. Stagnant water in clogged drains can lead to mosquito breeding, increasing the risk of diseases like dengue and malaria. Poor drainage maintenance has been a recurring issue, with several low-lying areas in Pune experiencing repeated flooding every year.
Addressing the media, Dhangekar emphasized that the PMC’s lack of urgency in drain cleaning is unacceptable. He stated that if the municipal administration does not take immediate and effective action, he, along with local residents and party workers, will stage a protest inside the PMC premises.
“The monsoon is fast approaching, and yet there is little evidence of systematic drain cleaning in many parts of Pune. If the civic body fails to act, we will be forced to protest in the PMC to demand accountability and action,” said Dhangekar.
Following Dhangekar’s warning, the PMC has claimed that drain cleaning work is underway and that teams have been deployed across the city. However, ground reports from several neighborhoods suggest that the pace and quality of the work remain inadequate.
PMC officials state that desilting and cleaning are being carried out in phases, prioritizing flood-prone zones. Encroachments, garbage dumping, and lack of public cooperation are cited as major hurdles in maintaining clean drains. The civic body has promised stricter monitoring and more frequent inspections ahead of heavy rains.
With the monsoon just weeks away, all eyes are on the PMC to ramp up its efforts and avoid a repeat of previous years’ chaos. Dhangekar’s threat of protest has added pressure on the civic administration to deliver tangible results, not just promises.