NMC prepares for the monsoon

The Nagpur Municipal Corporation is working overtime on preventive measures to prevent flooding and waterlogging during the monsoon. NMC has
started cleaning major and minor nullahs, and storm water drains over a month ago.

NMC health officials have claimed that they are ready for the monsoon and completed 80% of the desilting and nullah-widening works till date. “The major nullah-cleaning work is almost complete and the rest will be completed by June 10. The cleaning work began two months back and we have deployed four porcelain machines for cleaning of major nullahs. The minor nullahs will be cleaned manually, and the civic standing committee has cleared the proposal,’’ said health officer Dr Milind Ganvir, who is also in-charge of the sanitation department.

The city’s storm water drainage system comprises the Nag River and Pili Nadi with about 220 minor nullahs emptying into them. The Nag river carries water from Ambazari lake while the Pili nadi gets water from Gorewada dam. The two rivers intersect at Punapur in East Nagpur.

Over the last couple of years the corporation has been widening the outer end of the river at Wardhaman Nagar, Punapur and Pardi side. “This is being done to increase the flow of river and relief from flooding to areas near Nandanwan, Jagnade chowk and Pardi,’’ said a civic official. The civic body has earmarked Rs 25 lakh for cleaning work of nullahs and deployed almost 700 to 800 health workers for the job.

Dr Ganvir added, this year we have adopted phase-wise nullah cleaning and widening work. We started by cleaning Nag Nadi, Pili Nadi, Chamber Nullah and Narendra Nagar nullah, while in the next phase 220 minor nullahs will be cleaned. All health workers have been directed to complete the nullah-cleaning work by June 10, he said.

Similarly, works have been undertaken to widen the Pili nadi and remove encroachments on its banks. Last year, a few slum localities were marooned as the Pili nadi was flooded. “We are giving special attention to the perennial flooding spots in Mankapur and Nandanwan. The commissioner has instructed that all encroachments on the banks of the nullahs should be removed,’’ a civic official stated.

The official added that normally potholes or patches on road develop during the monsoon due to rainwater. Our storm water drainage system is not proper. “We need an efficient storm water drainage system and for that the civic body has prepared a Rs 400 crore ambitious project under JNNURM. It will be placed before general body for approval and work will start soon,” he revealed.

Although Nagpur has not witnessed a flood since July 12, 1994, low-lying areas get flooded every year after heavy rains during the three monsoon months. Many bridges on Nag and Pili rivers get submerged, sometimes isolating localities.

NMC official say, “The problem has worsened in recent years due to heavy silting of the two rivers and other streams in the city. The city’s drainage and sewerage system have not been upgraded to keep up with the city growing population. As a result, Nag and Pili rivers and other streams have become open drains.”