PMC's failing record in water meter installation amid opposition from citizens

With the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting above-average rainfall this year, Pune divisional commissioner Dr Chandrakant Pulkundwar on Wednesday called a meeting to review monsoon preparedness.

- Vicky Pathare

PUNE: He directed all departments to be fully prepared for possible flood situations and focus on detailed disaster preparedness.

The meeting was held at the Pune divisional commissioner's office, and senior officials including Kolhapur Range special IG Sunil Phulari, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) commissioner Shekhar Singh, Pune Zilla Parishad CEO Gajanan Patil, additional commissioner Mahesh Patil, PWD (public works department) chief engineer Atul Chavan, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) additional commissioner Omprakash Divate, and resident deputy collector Jyoti Kadam attended it. Officials from Sangli, Kolhapur, and Solapur also joined the meeting via video conferencing.

Dr Pulkundwar emphasised that departments such as revenue, police, water resources, urban local bodies and health must hold coordination meetings at the district level, and that availability of essential medicines and foodgrains at fair price shops must be ensured. "Measures should be taken to supply clean drinking water during flooding, and maintain transport and mobility during heavy rain. Besides, emergency response teams should be operational 24x7 during the monsoon," he said. The divisional commissioner also directed the water resources department to use flood forecasting models developed by CDAC and to stay in close contact with the IMD. He said that danger levels should be clearly marked on bridges across rivers in the Pune division.