Nagpur: Tuesday’s flooding in southwest Nagpur has exposed what elected representatives describe as a complete lack of coordination among multiple govt agencies executing parallel infrastructure projects, with incomplete works, damaged stormwater systems and poor restoration aggravating the impact of heavy rainfall.Standing Committee chairperson and Prabhag 37 corporator Shivani Dani-Wakhare cited the unfinished cement concrete road project in front of Somalwar School as a glaring example of inter-departmental failure. She said the stretch has remained under construction for nearly two years due to poor coordination between the State PWD’s World Bank division, which is executing the road work, and Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s Public Health Engineering (PHE) department.“The work has remained incomplete because the two departments have failed to synchronise their activities. Citizens are paying the price for this lack of coordination,” she said.Laxmi Nagar zone chairperson Laxmi Yadav blamed the ongoing AMRUT 2.0 sewerage project for worsening the situation across several localities in the southwest assembly constituency. According to her, sewerage works are underway in Pramoti Nagar, Pratap Nagar, Gajanan Nagar, Sarkar Nagar, LIC Colony, Shiv Nagar near Anna Idli, and Chhatrapati Hall area.Yadav alleged that the sewerage contractor has damaged several stormwater drain inlets and underground utility networks while laying pipelines.“Despite repeated complaints, the agency has failed to repair the damaged stormwater infrastructure. Even roads dug up for laying sewer lines have not been restored, leaving residents to suffer,” she said.Apart from the AMRUT project, State PWD’s World Bank division is executing cement concrete road works at Narendra Nagar and in front of Somalwar School, while separate civil works are also underway near Padole Square. Adding to the congestion is Nagpur Improvement Trust’s ongoing project to lay an overflow pipeline from Sonegaon Lake.“The simultaneous execution of projects by multiple agencies without a common coordination mechanism has created chaos. Every department is digging roads independently, but nobody is taking responsibility for restoring them or ensuring drainage remains functional,” Yadav said.Meanwhile, Laxmi Nagar zone has initiated preventive measures to minimise flooding if another spell of intense rain hits the city. Assistant Commissioner (Laxmi Nagar zone) Dhananjay Jadhav said temporary safeguards have been put in place at vulnerable locations. “The opening of the drain in front of Somalwar School has been widened to improve discharge during heavy rain. At locations where retaining walls were damaged, sandbag barricades have been erected in two rows to prevent floodwater from entering residential colonies. Similar precautionary measures have been taken at other vulnerable spots,” he said.Chief engineer Leena Upadhey on Thursday evening convened a joint meeting of State PWD’s World Bank division and NMC’s public works department to resolve the issue of waterlogging in front of Somalwar School.During the high-level meeting, it was decided that State PWD would develop a chamber at two locations to drain out rainwater coming from localities behind the school.She directed the joint team to start the work with immediate effect and said it should be completed within the next seven days.
