Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to clean Ramnadi river, which flows through Pashan, Baner and Aundh, and meets Mula river. Since there have been many illegal constructions on Ramnadi’s river bed, it has shrunk restricting the free flow of water at many places. Moreover, vegetation along the river also disturbs the water flow causing flood-like situation during the monsoon. 

According to the Kothrud-Bavdhan Regional Ward Office, which has invited private agencies for carrying out the cleaning work of Ramnadi, mainly desilting work and removing vegetation along the river will be done. The flow of the river has been facing obstacles in many places resulting in a flood-like situation in case of a heavy downpour.

Ramnadi river is a tributary of Mula. However, the river has turned into a big sewage as untreated sewage water is being released into Ramnadi. 

Ramnadi’s importance was underlined during the flash floods of October 2010, when many parts of Pashan and Baner were flooded due to rampant encroachments along Ramnadi.

When contacted, Jayant Bhosekar, Regional Ward Officer of Kothrud-Bavdhan, said a big stretch of the river has already been desilted with the help of earth movers. However, there are still many spots, where big machines cannot reach, the cleaning has to be carried out manually. 

“During the monsoon, it is not possible to desilt the river manually. So, we will carry out the work post-monsoon. The duration of the work is four months,” Bhosekar said.