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 ActivatedA round-the-clock control room has been made operational at NMC headquarters. Citizens can register complaints on numbers 2567029, 2567777, and on emergency helpline 108Two 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.BoxFour Response Teams & Designated ResponsibilitiesTeam 1: Fire and public works departments will act in case of urban floodingTeam 2: Garden department will handle cases of fallen treesTeam 3: Electricity department will address incidents involving broken/ collapsed poles and snapped wiresTeam 4: Solid waste, encroachment, hot-mix plant, and workshop departments will respond to building collapses
