Health panel orders all 10 zones to identify vulnerable spots, NMC to seek MLAs’ funds to repair nullah walls | Nagpur News

Nagpur: Days after the July 28 cloudburst-like downpour exposed the city’s flood vulnerabilities, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is scrambling to prevent a repeat of the deluge. The civic body has also acknowledged critical gaps in its flood management, including damaged retaining walls along rivers and nullahs and its inability to clean stormwater infrastructure under railway jurisdiction.At a review meeting chaired by health committee chairperson Manisha Atkare on Monday, all 10 zonal offices were directed to remain on high alert during heavy rain and deploy personnel at locations that witnessed severe waterlogging last week. Assistant commissioners were instructed to keep dewatering pumps ready for immediate deployment in flood-prone areas.Speaking to TOI, Atkare said every zone has been asked to strengthen emergency preparedness and ensure prompt pumping of floodwater from vulnerable localities.The review also revealed that roads and localities adjoining railway tracks repeatedly face waterlogging because NMC is not permitted to desilt stormwater drains and sewer chambers under railway jurisdiction.To address this issue, the civic body will write to the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), seeking permission to undertake the desilting or requesting the Railways to carry out the work before the next spell of heavy rain.The committee also directed all zones to identify damaged retaining walls along rivers and nullahs and submit reports. According to Atkare, breaches and deterioration of these protective walls worsened flooding in several areas. Citing a shortage of funds, she said NMC would approach MLAs to finance reconstruction through their local area development funds.The meeting also mapped flood-prone locations across the city. Ashi Nagar reported 12 waterlogging spots, followed by Laxmi Nagar and Gandhibagh with 10 each, Mangalwari 8-10, Dhantoli five, Dharampeth four, Hanuman Nagar three and Lakadganj two.Atkare also directed the solid waste management department to strengthen door-to-door garbage collection and eliminate garbage blackspots by increasing collection frequency in vulnerable areas.Mayor Neeta Thakre, standing committee chairperson Shivani Dani Wakhare, ruling party leader Narendra Borkar and former mayor Dayashankar Tiwari attended the meeting.