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Time of India

Rs196cr sanctioned, still repairs of river retaining walls, drains delayed

Nagpur: In the wake of the devastating Ambazari Lake overflow on Sept 23, 2023, the state govt had sanctioned Rs196 crore for flood mitigation measures in the city. Still, key repair works of river retaining walls and drains remain incomplete as the monsoon nears. During a high-level meeting chaired by Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday, concerns were raised over the snail-paced progress and alleged negligence by civic contractors. It emerged that several large contractors — who secured major tenders for restoring storm-hit rivers, nullahs, and access roads — subcontracted the work to smaller agencies with limited manpower and machinery. This outsourcing significantly slowed down work, and with only weeks before the rains, major portions of the city remain vulnerable to floods. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) issued 97 work orders across its 10 zones for the repair of riverbank retaining walls, including Nag and Pora rivers, and adjoining road infrastructure. Of the total Rs196.97 crore sanctioned, Rs73.09 crore was earmarked for drain-related work and Rs20 crore for road repairs. To date, bills worth Rs93.09 crore were submitted to the Chief Accounts and Finance Officer, while the state disbursed Rs86.66 crore. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cost Of Amusement Park Equipment From Mexico Might Surprise You - See Tips Amusement Park Equipment | search ads Click Here Undo However, payments totaling Rs6.46 crore remain pending with the accounts department. On-site inspections across multiple zones revealed construction debris still clogging nullahs and riverbeds, restricting the flow of water. Engineers at the zonal level reportedly failed to enforce deadlines, and no action was taken against agencies delaying critical flood defense work. This year's forecast for an above normal and early monsoon is adding to the citizens' concern. NMC's top engineering officials are now scrambling to assess the progress. A review meeting with all zonal executive engineers to evaluate the situation and address the backlog has been called on Tuesday. Yet, the civic administration's laxity in executing post-flood repairs raises red flags. If swift action isn't taken, Nagpur could face another flood disaster — this time not due to natural causes, but because of poor governance and accountability failure.