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Time of India
22-07-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
No retaining walls along rivers, north, east & south Nagpur homes in high-risk zones
Nagpur: Rapid urban expansion along the banks of the Nag, Pili, and Pora rivers in north, east and south Nagpur has exposed hundreds of new settlements dangerously to flooding due to absence of retaining walls. Alarmed by the threat, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has submitted a proposal seeking Rs57 crore from the state govt under its flood mitigation scheme to construct retaining walls across these high-risk zones, confirmed NMC's chief engineer Manoj Talewar. While the state govt approved the NMC proposal "in principle," it has not yet released the funds. The proposal identifies areas such as Pardi, Punapur, Kalamna, Wanjra, Wathoda and Narsala, where homes have come up perilously close to riverbanks with no retaining walls constructed by either the NMC or the Nagpur Improvement Trust. These areas have repeatedly witnessed waterlogging and flood-like situations during heavy rainfall. Earlier this month, even with relatively low rainfall, many of these localities were inundated, underscoring the urgency of the situation. Official sources say the Rs57 crore proposal includes construction of new walls. "If this fund isn't released before peak monsoon, we are staring at another disaster," said a senior official from NMC's public works department. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo Residents of the vulnerable zones live in constant fear. "Even a moderate downpour turns our homes into islands," said a resident of Punapur, who lost household belongings in last year's floods. "How many times do we need to plead for a protection wall?" Civic officials fear that a single spell of intense rain could mirror the devastation caused by the September 2023 flash floods that ravaged parts of the city. The calamity saw large sections of the retaining walls along the three rivers crumble, especially downstream of the Ambazari dam and along the Nag river. Several properties were submerged, and public anger erupted after the NMC failed to reconstruct the damaged flood barriers. Despite the state govt sanctioning Rs204.72 crore in February 2024, including Rs163.23 crore specifically for riverbank protection works, execution has been abysmally slow. NMC issued work orders worth Rs154.42 crore, but only Rs86.63 crore was disbursed so far which the civic body has utilized. The civic body urged the divisional commissioner to release the remaining Rs70.26 crore to complete the pending works and clear dues to contractors. The funds are pending, effectively halting flood prevention works. Consequently, citizens affected due to the September 2023 floods have sought intervention of the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Incomplete Retaining Walls, Blocked Spillway Raise Ambazari Flood Fears
Nagpur: As rain continues to pound Nagpur since Sunday night, fear-induced sleeplessness has once again gripped residents living downstream of Ambazari dam and along Nag river. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The memories of September 2023 flash floods are haunting residents of the worst-hit neighbourhoods like Corporation Colony and Shankar Nagar, forcing them spend night taking turns to monitor rising dam water levels. With retaining walls still incomplete and the spillway of the dam partially obstructed by a monument, many fear a repeat of the September 2023 late night disaster. Despite repeated claims of preparedness by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), a ground visit by TOI on Monday revealed glaring vulnerabilities. In Corporation Colony — the epicentre of September 2023's flooding — at least three critical spots along the Nag river remain unprotected, with no retaining wall constructed. In Shankar Nagar too, the damaged wall along the river remains unrestored, exposing nearby homes to direct flood risk. "The river is barely metres away from our houses. If it overflows again, we'll have no protection," a resident said, pointing to an open bank where floodwaters surged last year. Ironically, the same stretch was recently inspected by senior civic officials, including NMC commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari, during a desilting operation. While heavy machinery was used to clear the silt, no protective structure has been rebuilt since. TOI has already highlighted that of the 56 damaged retaining wall sites across the Nag, Pili, and Pora rivers, 51 have been completed. "Five major sites are pending. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now We have requested additional Rs70 crore from the state to complete them," said NMC chief engineer Manoj Talewar. However, residents and activists say these delays are inexcusable. What's worsened the situation is the continued blockage of the Ambazari dam's spillway tray — the main outlet for excess water — by the Swami Vivekanand memorial. The monument was constructed much before the flash floods and, although not the cause of the floods, it remains an obstruction in the dam's tail channel. Retired civil engineer Yeshwant Khorgade explained, "The dam was designed to discharge 320 cubic metres per second (cumec), but the channel area available near the statue is only about 35 sq.m., whereas the minimum required is 107 sq.m. As per IS 7784 (Indian standards codes that provide guidelines for the design of cross-drainage works), this violates safe velocity and flow standards, increasing the risk of overflow. " Adding to the concern, the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) study tested the spillway for just 116 cumec — far below the original design. The irrigation department has stated in an affidavit that dam safety is NMC's responsibility. Yet, NMC itself has told the high court it lacks technical expertise to manage a dam. "This is a disaster waiting to happen," said another flood-hit resident Gajanan Deshpande. "The dam must be handed over to the state irrigation department. Civic officials are gambling with our lives," he said. After removing almost all obstacles by widening the stretches and deepening the riverbed, residents say the flood mitigation plan may work this monsoon. "But if we get continuous heavy rain, it might not be enough," said Dr Archana Deshpande, a resident of Shankar Nagar. As monsoon activity intensifies, with more downpours forecast, experts are calling for an urgent audit of the dam structure, retaining walls, and flood mitigation works. With residents already standing guard each night, it's a race against time to prevent Nagpur from being submerged once more.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Upgraded hotmix plant functional, yet tender floated to asphalt road
1 2 3 Nagpur: Even as the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) recently commissioned its hotmix plant at Hingna after a long-overdue upgrade, the public works department (PWD) floated a tender for Rs24.73 lakh to asphalt a road in Shanti Niketan Colony in the Laxmi Nagar zone. The move sparked criticism, as the internal tar road is in a poor condition and residents were demanding immediate repairs, which the plant was expected to handle efficiently. Just a few weeks ago, a committee led by officiating chief engineer Manoj Talewar certified the new counter flow drum mix plant as fully functional. A comprehensive inspection on May 5, conducted by a six-member committee including officials from mechanical and hotmix departments, found all components such as the thermodrum unit, bitumen storage tanks, cold feeder and control cabin systems aligned with technical specifications. During the trial, the plant produced a batch of bituminous mix (BM), which was found satisfactory. Only a minor issue of noise from the thermodrum's chain drive was noted and rectified with lubrication. Additionally, samples were tested and calibrated by a third-party lab, confirming the quality output of the plant. With civic complaints rising and citizens demanding better infrastructure, NMC's decision to outsource a road project even after certifying its plant as operational raised serious concerns about administrative efficiency and public accountability. However, Talewar defended the tender stating that "the plant has only recently become operational and is yet to run at full capacity." Ironically, the audit report signed by Talewar himself had confirmed the smooth functioning of the plant. The new plant, capable of producing 60-90 tonnes of asphalt per hour (up from the previous 30 tonnes), was projected to significantly reduce NMC's dependency on private contractors. Citing an example, an NMC official said that a 700-metre stretch at Manish Nagar was asphalted at a cost of Rs35 lakh by deploying services of the old hot-mix plant last year, while private firms would have quoted Rs1.5 crore for the same work. The 25-year-old unit was dismantled and the upgraded facility was completed ahead of its May deadline by installing a modern Light Diesel Oil (LDO)-based drum mix plant. It was seen as a major step toward achieving transparency, quality control, and cost-effectiveness in roadwork, especially considering that NMC spends over Rs95 crore annually on outsourcing road repairs, compared to Rs5 crore on in-house operations. A pre-monsoon survey by the hot mix department identified 497 potholes and 159 bad roads across the 10 zones, excluding roads managed by other agencies like the Nagpur Improvement Trust and the National Highways Authority of India. Subsequently, it sought details of bad roads from the zonal offices. None of the zones have so far submitted the lists of bad roads or potholes with locations, confirmed the official.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Private firms defy ban on road digging, restoration delays add to citizens woes
Nagpur: Despite Nagpur Municipal Corporation's (NMC) blanket ban on road digging after June 1, private firms continue to flout orders with impunity, worsening the already fragile condition of city roads just as the monsoon sets in. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now On Monday, TOI spotted workers from a private telecom company digging up the road near Katol Square — the same patch that was excavated last week for laying cables. The Mangalwari zone halted the work then, following a TOI report, but the firm resumed operations using heavy machinery in open defiance of municipal commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari's directive. Other areas where these works are openly being carried out include Narendra Nagar, Manish Nagar, and areas near a high-end hotel on Wardha Road, as well as many internal areas in South and South-West Nagpur. The ongoing violations also reflect poorly on NMC's public works department, headed by officiating chief engineer Manoj Talewar, which is struggling to enforce the civic chief's diktat. The ban was issued specifically to prevent disruption and ensure smooth vehicular movement during the monsoon. However, the lack of monitoring and repeated breaches exposes administrative gaps within the department responsible for implementation. Several roads across the city dug up for infrastructure works remain unrestored, compounding the woes of citizens. In the Hudkeshwar-Narsala area, the first heavy rainfall turned large portions of unfinished roads into slushy, hazardous zones. For the past 3-4 months, major sewerage pipeline work under the Rs 900 crore Amrut 2.0 Pora River Pollution Abatement Project has been underway, laying over 500 km of pipelines in South and South-West Nagpur. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Despite pipeline-laying being completed at many stretches, the roads have not been properly restored. Trenches were only partially filled with loose soil, which has since turned into slippery mud traps. Now, in a token attempt at repair, contractors have merely dumped gravel and crushed stones, making it difficult and unsafe for pedestrians and vehicles alike. Residents fear conditions will worsen with more rain. "The roads in our locality have become death traps. Repeated complaints to the PHE department and contractors have fallen on deaf ears," said Dhanraj Valukar, chairman of the local residents' committee. Satish Kasare and Mangesh Charde added that the continued neglect has caused multiple vehicle breakdowns and accidents, especially involving two-wheelers. Another hotspot is the road from Mate Chowk to RPTS Road, where fresh excavation has disrupted traffic flow. Loose soil has spilled over onto the road, creating a major accident risk. While the NMC sought technical guidance from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), which prescribed specific methods for restoring tar and concrete roads after utility work, these guidelines are being routinely ignored. Commissioner Chaudhari has issued an ultimatum to the public health engineering and public works departments, along with contractors, to ensure all dug-up roads are restored to their original condition. However, the continued violations suggest a serious lack of coordination, enforcement, and accountability.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
NMC Chalks Out Plan To Deal With Monsoon Fury
1 2 Nagpur: Aimed at responding swiftly and effectively to all emergencies arising during the upcoming rainy season, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), under the leadership of additional commissioner Vasumana Pant, has chalked out its monsoon disaster management plan. As part of the plan, Manoj Talewar, in-charge chief engineer, has been appointed as the planning head, while chief fire officer BS Chandankhede will serve as the operations head. Six key departments — including electricity, garden, public health engineering, solid waste, workshop, and encroachment removal — are included in the preparedness initiative. Core objective of the plan is to ensure prompt and effective action in the event of flooding, collapse of buildings, road blockages caused by fallen trees, and waterlogging. Multiple teams have been formed, comprising officers from NMC headquarters, executive engineers, zonal engineers, and other key personnel. All officials have been directed to remain on alert from June 1 to September 30. On September 23, 2023, a major flood had wreaked havoc in the city, leaving many areas along the Nag River and homes flooded following heavy rains. The incident sparked widespread criticism of the NMC. Hundreds of homes and properties, including vehicles, were damaged in the floods, causing loss of crores of rupees to the citizens. During last year's monsoon also, multiple homes in South and South-West Nagpur experienced flooding due to lack of proper rainwater drainage systems. These areas witnessed flooding three to four times during the season, raising concerns among the citizens. Apart from this, several other areas also reported flooding. With the rainy season about to begin this year, residents in these areas are once again living in fear of floods. They hope things will be different this year. Box: 24-Hour Control Room Activated A round-the-clock control room has been made operational at NMC headquarters. Citizens can register complaints on numbers 2567029, 2567777, and on emergency helpline 108 Two senior officials from the headquarters and zonal executive engineers have been assigned mandatory 10-day rotation duty as control room supervisors. In addition, 12 assistant engineers have also been deployed. NMC administration has emphasised readiness and coordination across departments to ensure citizen safety during the monsoon months. Box Four Response Teams & Designated Responsibilities Team 1: Fire and public works departments will act in case of urban flooding Team 2: Garden department will handle cases of fallen trees Team 3: Electricity department will address incidents involving broken/ collapsed poles and snapped wires Team 4: Solid waste, encroachment, hot-mix plant, and workshop departments will respond to building collapses Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
