Pune: In response to the threat of flooding due to ongoing rains in the dam area, the Municipal Corporation has taken prompt action to clear debris from the riverbeds.
Over the past two days, 312 trips of dumpers have removed the debris that was obstructing water flow in the Mutha River, particularly in Karvenagar, Warje, and Shivane areas.
The flood that occurred on July 25 led to water entering homes in areas like Etanagari, Nimbjanagar, and Vitthalnagar along Sinhagad Road, causing significant damage to household items and vehicles.
Business owners also faced losses worth lakhs of rupees. While the release of water from the Khadakwasla Dam was blamed for this situation, encroachments in the riverbed also contributed to the flood.
In Karvenagar, some marriage halls had created parking lots within the blue flood lines by dumping hundreds of dumpers of debris. This debris obstructed the flow of water, causing it to back up into the Ektanagari area.
Water from the Taljai hill stream also entered the settlement. The Municipal Corporation began removing this debris. On Monday (29th), debris removal started at five places between Karvenagar and Shivane.
In one day, 204 dumpers of debris were removed, with 158 dumpers cleared from a marriage hall site near Rajaram Bridge, where work continued until 1:30 AM.
On Tuesday morning at 8 AM, debris removal resumed in Karvenagar and Shivane. By 6 PM, 96 trips of dumpers had been made to remove debris from the blue flood line behind the marriage hall in Karvenagar, and the work there was completed, according to the Municipal Corporation.
Deputy Commissioner Madhav Jagtap mentioned that 25 JCBs and 50 dumpers were used, but the administration's statement noted the use of 12 JCBs and 25 dumpers. Additionally, two executive engineers, six junior engineers, and 37 drivers participated.
Each dumper took about 20 minutes to remove debris from the riverbed at Karvenagar and Shivane and fill it into the dumper. Eight JCBs and 12 dumpers were used simultaneously in Karvenagar.
The Municipal Corporation cleared a section approximately 2.5 meters deep and 300 feet long within the blue flood line. In Shivane, two JCBs were used to remove debris dumped in the riverbed at Dangatnagar. The debris was transported directly to a quarry in Wagholi using eight dumpers.
JCB drivers had to wait for dumpers to arrive, slowing down the work. By evening, 12 trips of dumpers had been made from this location, as reported by the administration.
Bipin Shinde, Executive Engineer, Construction Department stated, "Throughout the day, there were 108 trips of dumpers to remove debris, with 12 trips in Shivane and 96 trips in Karvenagar. There is no debris left within the blue flood line in the riverbed. Notices will be issued to the landowners."