Latest news with #NationalDisasterManagementPlan
Hindustan Times
12-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
PMC to use GPR for underground utility mapping to prevent damage and improve planning
To minimise damage to underground utilities and prevent disruptions during infrastructure and construction projects, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has launched a new initiative to map the city's underground service networks using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technology. The goal is to ensure better planning and coordination before any roadwork, metro construction, or public utility projects are undertaken. (HT) This initiative aims to create a detailed underground utility map, marking the precise locations of water pipelines, drainage lines, electrical cables, gas lines, and other essential service lines. The goal is to ensure better planning and coordination before any roadwork, metro construction, or public utility projects are undertaken. 'Pune's roads are not only congested on the surface but also beneath it. Multiple utilities—ranging from water and drainage to telecom and power cables—are competing for space underground, making maintenance and new installations extremely challenging,' said Ganesh Sonune, head of PMC's disaster management department. He added, 'We are using GPR technology to map the underground utilities throughout the city. This will help us identify and relocate existing lines before starting major infrastructure projects. On Tuesday, we signed an agreement with MAHAPREIT (Mahatma Phule Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Technology Limited), a government-supported company, to carry out this work. The project is part of the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) and is funded by the central government.' The PMC has set aside ₹600 crore for upcoming disaster management works, with the underground utility mapping project being a key part of this plan. Officials pointed out that GPR surveys are especially critical in planning metro lines and stations. The technology allows engineers to design around key underground utilities, like sewers and high-voltage cables, or prepare plans to relocate them ahead of construction. 'These georadar systems, supported by advanced positioning and software tools, provide fast, accurate, and non-destructive mapping, which is essential in densely populated urban areas,' explained Sonune. Currently, PMC manages over 2,200 km of road networks across Pune. However, more than 100 km of these roads are dug up each year by 14 external utility agencies—including mobile operators, CCTV networks, and the state electricity board—alongside PMC's four internal departments responsible for water supply, drainage, stormwater lines, and street lighting. 'While we do recover restoration costs from utility agencies, the road surface rarely returns to its original condition. Delays in reinstatement and poor coordination among agencies often cause public inconvenience,' said a senior official from the PMC Road Department. Sonune stressed that the underground mapping initiative will help reduce the need for repeated digging, improve coordination between departments, and enhance the overall quality of civic infrastructure. Sahebrao Dandge, superintendent engineer of the Road Department, added that the new mapping system will significantly improve the city's infrastructure planning and minimise disruptions to daily life caused by uncoordinated utility work.
Hindustan Times
27-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
PMC receives ₹80 crore under NDMP to mitigate urban flooding
Jun 27, 2025 09:00 AM IST The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has received ₹ 80 crore under the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) for urban flood control measures, said Pune municipal commissioner Naval Kishore Ram on Thursday. In 2023, the central government approved ₹ 250 crore in funds under the NDMA for Pune, instructing that a detailed plan be submitted to the Centre. (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO) The central government chose eight major cities - including Pune and Mumbai from Maharashtra - that are vulnerable to urban flooding for the allotment of funds under the NDMP to be utilised for mitigation efforts. In 2023, the central government approved ₹ 250 crore in funds under the NDMA for Pune, instructing that a detailed plan be submitted to the Centre. The minister of state for urban development Madhuri Misal on Thursday took the review meeting at PMC headquarters for various projects. While reviewing, the municipal commissioner confirmed that the funds received from the state government were approved by the central government. 'The PMC had received ₹ 80 crore for urban flood control measures. We have planned the works worth ₹ 600 crore in future for disaster management in the city,' said Ram. To further enhance flood management, the PMC has established a new disaster management cell equipped with modern facilities including a well-equipped control room. The initiative aims to integrate all departments and prepare for disasters in each department.
Hindustan Times
16-06-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Pune civic body steps up control measures as 73 new flood-prone spots emerge
As the city has witnessed a worrying rise in flood-prone spots between 2023 and 2025 with 73 new flood-prone spots identified by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in the month of June alone, the civic body has taken a proactive approach and introduced a slew of measures to tackle the emerging challenges. The PMC has sought additional funding and a detailed project report with an estimated cost of ₹250 crores has been prepared to tackle the surge in flood-prone spots. Pune is one of only seven cities in the country to be allocated funds by the central government to mitigate the risk of urban flooding under the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP). The National Disaster Management Authority has allocated ₹50 crore for five years to the city. To further enhance flood management, the PMC has established a new disaster management cell equipped with modern facilities including a well-equipped control room. The initiative aims to integrate all departments and prepare for disasters in each department. Ganesh Sonune, deputy commissioner, PMC disaster management department, said that the civic body has taken a proactive approach to identifying and addressing emerging flood-prone areas. 'We have prepared and uploaded our flood control plan for the upcoming monsoon on the PMC website. The duty of each officer involved in the plan has been framed in detail. Fire brigade officers have been requested to provide information about all emergency calls received during the last two monsoons that will help us identify weak spots and curtail situations there,' Sonune said. Earlier, waterlogging in Pune would primarily occur only when excess water was released from dams or reservoirs. However, the situation has drastically changed. Now, even moderate rainfall (35 mm to 40 mm) results in the accumulation of water that is knee-deep in several localities. Disturbingly, many of these areas were previously considered safe and free from flooding. All this points to a systemic failure in urban planning, particularly maintenance and modernisation of stormwater drainage infrastructure. Activists have criticised the administration for its lack of foresight, pointing to clogged nullahs and poorly integrated drainage systems that are unable to handle the pressures of rapid urbanisation as well as erratic monsoon patterns. Undri resident Sunil Aiyer said, 'The emergence of new waterlogging spots across the city is a stark indicator of the pressing need for comprehensive flood management and urban infrastructure upgrades. It raises serious safety concerns for citizens, especially in terms of mobility, health risks, and emergency access during the rains. Unchecked urbanisation, narrowing of natural drainage channels, and inadequate maintenance of stormwater drains appear to be contributing to this worrisome trend. The increasing frequency and intensity of such incidents demands immediate attention from civic authorities to safeguard public life and restore confidence in Pune's infrastructure.' Jaymala Dhankikar, a member of the NIBM Annexe Forum, said, 'Infrastructure like roads, metro lines and flyovers has been constructed but what about stormwater drains? There is zero planning for them which is leading to flooding in areas near the Pune Metro and other infrastructural projects. The engineers are not paying attention, and it feels like the city has been abandoned. Citizens are suffering due to frequent and sudden flooding.'
Hindustan Times
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
State relies on centre's War Book to manage war-like situations
MUMBAI: Maharashtra does not have a plan to manage war and war-like situations; under these circumstances, it is guided by the Union War Book of the central government for civil response, and the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) prepared by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The state, however, does have a Disaster Management Plan to tackle other kinds of emergencies such as natural and nuclear disasters. At a security review meeting on Friday, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis directed the state administration to study the Union War Book and disseminate the information to all the authorities concerned. The meeting was held hours before the ceasefire between India and Pakistan was declared. The State Disaster Management Plan 2023 mentions the role of various authorities, from district collectors, to the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Management Authority, which is headed by the chief minister, among others. One of the chapters focuses on measures to be taken in case of various natural disasters as well as industrial chemical disasters, and nuclear and radiological emergencies. It provides detailed information on what needs to be done in case of an accident at a nuclear facility leading to large-scale release of radioactivity. However, the State Disaster Management Plan offers nothing in case of a war. 'The role of disaster management comes in at a later stage. We come into the picture for relief work, and hence the State Disaster Management Plan doesn't have anything specific relating to war. For instance, in a war, our work would be limited to dousing fires and rescuing people trapped under rubble in a coordinated response. All this is spelt out in detail,' said an official from the state disaster management department. Sonia Sethi, additional chief secretary, disaster management department, did not respond to queries sent via text. IS Chahal, additional chief secretary, home, too did not respond to calls and text messages from HT. An official from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) clarified that all states, not just Maharashtra, follow the Union War Book in war-like situations. 'The subject of war directly relates to the central government. The idea of the Union War Book is to guide states on their response if a war breaks out,' he said. The Union War Book is a manual that specifies the roles of various authorities in war time, including the police, railways, road and sea transport, health and emergency services, civil aviation, among other branches of the state. Devised after Independence, it has been revised periodically.
