Mutha river getting flooded due to narrowing of river channel, civic administration neglecting issue: Report
Pune: Water level of the Mutha river immediately increased after 40,000 cusecs water was released into the river from the Khadakwasla Dam. Solid waste dumped into the river bed and along its banks reduced its capacity to carry water. This increased the risk of floods, stated the report submitted by the committee appointed by the Municipal Commissioner to study reasons behind the situation.
The committee also blamed the PMC and the Irrigation Department for neglecting the narrowing of the river bed.
Many housing societies, houses, shops along Sinhagad Road were inundated after 35,000 cusecs water was released from Khadakwasla Dam this year during the rainy season. Housing societies such as Vitthal Nagar, Ekta Nagari, Nimbaj Nagar, Patil Estate, Shanti Nagar, along with Pulachi Wadi and Yerwada areas were in waist-deep water. Life was affected completely in these areas. People were running to save their lives. Around 5,000 residents were shifted to safe places.
Reasons behind flood-risk
Municipal Commissioner Dr Rajendra Bhosale appointed a committee comprising Superintending Engineers Sahebrao Dandge and Dinkar Gojare, Executive Engineer Bipin Shinde and Irrigation Department Superintending Engineer Sunanda Jagtap. The committee submitted its report in September this year. However, the Municipal Commissioner did not publish it, to which Sajag Nagrik Manch President Vivek Velankar objected. It has now been published after the Model Code of Conduct is over.
The committee report stated that a water discharge of 40,000 cusecs caused floods due to illegal constructions, dumping of solid waste in the river bed and along its banks for many years. The river’s carriage width reduced due to which a flood risk increased.
‘The river bed and banks should be freed from garbage and illegal constructions’
The committee recommended measures to check flooding of the river. They included taking steps to stop dumping of solid waste and construction debris. The natural channel of the river narrowed down due to urbanisation. Nullahs were reclaimed causing accumulation of water along them, which took a long time to drain.
Constructions have been carried out within the blue flood line. Such constructions should be marked with the blue or red flood lines. Wherever the river bed was reclaimed for constructions, they should be razed and the river’s natural channel should be freed. Culverts, bridges obstructing the natural flow of water should be demolished. Cases should be registered against encroachers, people responsible for dumping of debris and garbage.
Mutha river’s water carriage capacity should be 1 lakh cusecs
Among the recommendations of the panel is an important one, which states that the carriage capacity of the river should be one lakh cusecs of water. Nullahs have been encroached upon, garbage is dumped in them, which results in inundation of nearby areas. These obstructions should be removed. Besides the flood line, areas which get inundated after releasing 10,000, 20,000 and 30,000 cusecs of water should also be marked and mapped. Encroachments in the river bed should be demolished and action should be taken against people dumping garbage into the river. Nullahs should be cleaned regularly and encroachments within the flood line should be brought down.
No meeting even after two months
The committee submitted its report to the Municipal Commissioner two months ago. Not even a single meeting has been conducted till date. The civic chief will call a meeting and direct officials to take action.
Dr Rajendra Bhosale said, “The report of the committee appointed to study the reasons behind the flooding of the Mutha river has been published. We will conduct a meeting of officials from all departments and will take appropriate action. We will also take steps to curb flooding of the river.”
