Bawankule urges Nagpur to improve flood prevention efforts

Nagpur's guardian minister, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, has urged the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to take strong actions against flooding and to conserve water ahead of summer. He held a review meeting at NMC headquarters on Saturday, focusing on preparations for the rainy season. Bawankule emphasized the importance of reducing water leakage and increasing groundwater recharge. He set a deadline of May 31 for the cleaning of rivers and drains to prevent flooding. The meeting included several key officials, including local MLA Krishna Khopde and NMC's civic chief, Abhijeet Chaudhari. He highlighted the urgent need to address drainage problems in low-lying areas, especially those with cement roads that worsen flooding. Bawankule asked engineers to survey these vulnerable areas for potential solutions. To improve groundwater levels, he suggested cleaning public and private wells and exploring solar-powered water initiatives. He also recommended measures for rainwater collection to prevent runoff. During the meeting, NMC officials reported on the city's water supply progress. They noted that, under the AMRUT-1 scheme, major improvements had been made with significant financial and physical completion rates. However, some newly developed areas still depend on water tankers. Chaudhari mentioned that the number of water tankers has decreased from 137 to 54 in a year, with some zones already free from tanker water supply. Additional updates included the maintenance of borewells and ongoing work at Ambazari dam, which includes strengthening efforts to manage flood risks. The Public Works Department has also finished a new bridge near the dam. Bawankule instructed NMC to speed up unfinished projects before the monsoon season and to prepare a list of areas likely to flood this year, utilizing drones to monitor potential waterlogging sites.