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₹200 Cr Flood Protection Plan Shelved as PMC Awaits State Funds

24 Apr 2025

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has scrapped tenders worth ₹200 crore meant for constructing retaining walls along city nullahs, six months after initiating the process, due to the state government’s failure to release the promised funds. The project was proposed in the wake of the devastating September 25, 2019 cloudburst that caused the Ambil Odha to overflow, killing over 20 people and flooding several areas. The 2023 package was meant to strengthen flood protection across five BJP-held assembly constituencies, sparking controversy for excluding NCP-represented areas. Although the tenders attracted competitive bids 15–20% below estimates, delays caused by political objections and funding gaps forced the civic body to cancel the initiative.

This development has triggered sharp criticism of the BJP, which holds major political sway in Pune, for failing to ensure fund disbursement despite high-level representation. The PMC had previously stated that no work orders would be issued without funds, and officials have now turned to the urban development department seeking support. The cancelled works were part of the Ambil Odha redevelopment plan, which aimed to safeguard over 50 flood-prone locations identified after the 2019 tragedy. As the city enters monsoon season with key flood protection works on hold, public concerns about recurring disasters and administrative inefficiency are mounting.
 

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