89 flood-prone spots identified

PUNE: The Pune district administration has identified 89 flood-prone places, which include areas along the river in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and some villages from the district.
The administration has asked the irrigation department and the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to undertake demarcation of flood lines in the city areas and to initiate works to clean nullahs, drainage systems, streams and river channels.
Officials from the irrigation department, Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad civic bodies and all municipal councils met on Tuesday to discuss the district's preparedness for monsoon.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, district collector Vikas Deshmukh said, "There are 11 rivers that pass through Pune district. The district disaster management authority has identified 89 areas as flood-prone. Areas in Pune include Yerawada, Patil Estate, Sangamwadi, Bopodi, Aundh, Pulachiwadi, Sinhagad road etc. Areas in the Pimpri Chinchwad township include Dapodi, Sangvi and the areas near Pavana and Indrayani rivers."
Deshmukh said, "The irrigation department has already completed red- and blue-line mapping in flood-prone areas. The next step would be demarcation of these lines in PMC limits. We have contacted civic officials and the irrigation department to initiate the necessary measures."
He also said that lightning arrestors had been installed in four places in the district. All circle offices would get rain-gauge equipment, while weather stations have been proposed at two places in the district. He added that residents of the flood-prone areas would be given regular alerts. Special teams would be set up in villages to assist the administration in early warning of disasters, provision of first aid, search and rescue operations, damage assessment and central coordination.
Deshmukh said that flood control rooms are being established at the district collector's office and the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad civic bodies. The irrigation department will also have its separate flood control cells to monitor the discharge from dams and water levels in rivers. All the control rooms will start functioning by June 1.