Latest news with #UrbanFloodRiskManagementProgramme
Hindustan Times
30-07-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Pune's air quality dips sharply in 2024, states PMC report
.PUNE: The city's air quality worsened in 2024-25 with only 52 'good air' days recorded out of 365, compared to 79 such days in 2023-24; according to the Pune Municipal Corporation's (PMC's) Environmental Status Report (ESR) 2024-25 released on Tuesday. The number of 'moderate air' days rose from 140 in 2023-24 to 174 in 2024-25 just as the number of 'poor air' days rose from one in 2023-24 to three in 2024-25 and the number of 'satisfactory air' days fell from 145 in 2023-24 to 137 in 2024-25. No 'very poor/severe air' days were reported in either year. Environmental experts have linked the rise in pollution to increasing vehicle numbers and construction activity. Part of the Majhi Vasundhara Abhiyan, PMC's report supports the UN's Sustainable Development Goals while assessing the city's environment across five parameters namely earth, air, water, energy and sky. Pune, India - May 14, 2018: Air pollution in the city in Pune, India, on Monday, May 14, 2018. (Photo by Ravindra Joshi/HT PHOTO) Rise in number of trees & solar energy The number of trees in Pune rose to 5.78 lakh in 2024-25 recorded across 480 square kilometres through 224 surveys. Bird biodiversity also rose with 275 species reported — up from 253 species in 2023-24. On the energy front, the city doubled its rooftop solar power capacity over two years, reaching 1.66 lakh kW in 2024–25 with more than 60% coming from residential users. Water pollution still a major concern Despite increased dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in the Mula-Mutha river (now at 5.34 mg/l), pollution levels remain high. The chemical and biological oxygen demand (COD and BOD) are still above the safe limit. Lakes such as Pashan and Katraj recorded similar pollution levels, despite slight improvements. The city now generates around 2,400 tonnes of waste daily, including 1,350–1,400 tonnes of dry waste. Waste processing plants handle 1,440 tonnes of dry waste and 1,105 tonnes of wet waste. Biomining efforts have reclaimed nearly 28.5 acres of land, with ongoing work on another 10 lakh MT in the current phase. Rainfall and public health Rainfall more than doubled from 2023-24 with Pune receiving 1,311 mm of rainfall in 2024–25. The maximum temperature touched 41.8°C, while the minimum temperature dipped to 7.8°C. Health concerns rose with a spike in mosquito-borne diseases. Dengue cases increased from 3,377 to 4,958 this year, and chikungunya cases surged from 40 to 485. Focus on climate resilience As part of climate adaptation, 250 aquifers have been identified under the NDMA's Urban Flood Risk Management Programme for development as recharge zones. LED street lighting now covers over 2.13 lakh units in the city, leading to 56% energy savings. Naval Kishore Ram, Pune municipal commissioner, said, 'The ESR of Pune city was presented before the general body. It includes detailed analysis across various environmental parameters. The PMC is actively working to reduce pollution and cut carbon emissions. In the next two years, Pune will witness several major improvements in green initiatives.'
The Hindu
19-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Centre reviews flood mitigation proposal for capital city
The Union government has reviewed the proposals submitted by the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) for the implementation of a ₹200-crore Urban Flood Risk Management Programme for Thiruvananthapuram city, according to KSDMA officials. The Centre's approval for the wide-ranging programme involving various government departments as well as the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation is awaited. All the proposals collated from the departments and the Corporation were submitted by the KSDMA, which is the coordinating agency for the project. According to Corporation officials, the civic body's proposals were focussed on the storm water drains leading into the three major canal networks in the city — Amayizhanjan, Parvathy Puthanar, and Thettiyar. The cleaning up and deepening of these drains could address waterlogging-related issues in several areas, as per the assessment of the Corporation. Tackling waterlogging 'Several new storm water drains were constructed under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme, due to which there was no waterlogging in some areas which were perpetually plagued by it. Some more drains need improvement to address the remaining issues,' said an official. On the other hand, the Major and Minor Irrigation departments have focussed on the cleaning and widening of the various canals that run through the city as well as plans to address the issues at the Veli breakwater. Funds for the project For the programme, the Union government will contribute ₹150 crore and the State, ₹50 crore. The capital is one among nine cities chosen for the nationwide programme to enhance the resilience of cities to flood-related disasters, considering the increasing frequency of waterlogging and flooding. The 15th Finance Commission had in 2022 earmarked an amount of ₹2,500 crore under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund for urban flood mitigation for the seven most populous cities. As a continuation of this, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) rolled out similar programmes for nine more cities at a cost of ₹1,800 crore – in which Thiruvananthapuram has been included.
