PUNE, Maharashtra: A thorough clean-up campaign has been initiated in Pune to address the sanitation problems resulting from the recent flooding. Along with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), various other municipal bodies such as the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, Thane Municipal Corporation, Panvel Municipal Corporation, and the Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Foundation, have joined hands to collaborate on this initiative.
Officials visited multiple areas affected by flooding, such as Deccan Gymkhana, Bhide Bridge, Patil Estate, Sangamwadi, Tapodham Karvenagar, Sinhagad Road, Jivaj Nagar, Adarsh Nagar, Phulenagar, Shanti Nagar slum, and Mul Road to evaluate the situation and interact with the residents.
The devastating floods in urban and rural parts of Pune led to a severe sanitation emergency, requiring urgent and widespread intervention. More than 2,300 people took part in a special sanitation initiative including individuals from the Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Foundation, municipal authorities, and employees from different municipal corporations. These groups contributed essential machinery and tools to aid the effort.
The initiative not only involved cleaning efforts but also emphasised the provision of crucial support to people who had been forced to leave their homes. Affected individuals were given access to clean water and sanitation facilities. A health examination drive, ‘Cleanliness Adopt, Disease Avoid,’ was introduced as part of a disease prevention program to promote hygiene and health awareness among those displaced by the floods.
The city officials have instructed all relevant departments to quickly tackle the immediate difficulties caused by the floods and to bring back normal conditions in the affected areas. Furthermore, the disaster management system is still fully functional, and a 24-hour helpline is in place to support citizens during this continuing emergency.
Sandeep Kadam, Deputy Commissioner of Solid Waste Management, Pune, said, “Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation contributed 90 workers, Thane Municipal Corporation 280 workers, and Panvel Municipal Corporation 250 workers for the cleanliness drive. A total of 228 tonnes of waste, 26.5 tonnes of silt, and 33.5 tonnes of tree-cutting debris were successfully recovered.”