Pune: The incessant rain going on for the past few days put the city on tenterhooks as the water level of Mutha river increased following release of water from Khadakwasla dam. The release of water from Khadakwasla dam, which is filled to the brim, forced the civic administration to swing into action and keep a close watch on the situation in order to avoid any untoward incident.
The Maharashtra State Water Resource Department started releasing water from Khadakwasla dam from Tuesday. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) sounded an alert to all its departments to maintain vigil on the situation. After the Water Resources Department started releasing over 22,000 cusecs water from Khadakwasla dam, Municipal Commissioner Kunal Kumar and Disaster Management Cell Chief Ganesh Sonune visited some of the chronic spots along Mutha river which get submerged.
The Disaster Management Cell of the PMC did not receive any calls from the citizens. The Pune Fire Brigade kept its machinery on alert for the flood-prone areas especially in Hingane Khurd and Anandnagar on Sinhagad Road.
“We have been getting updates about released water from Khadakwasla dam and deployed the fire brigade officers to take an hourly review of the situation in flood-prone areas to move into action if needed,” Fire Brigade Chief Prashant Ranpise told Sakal Times.
“Unless the release of water from Khadakwasla dam crosses 25,000 cusecs there is no need to worry,” he added.
When contacted, Sonune said the situation is under control and the water level of Mutha river started receding.
“So far there is no emergency call received by the disaster management cell and the situation is normal. Commissioner Kunal Kumar was on the spot and he took review of the situation on Wednesday morning,” Sonune said.
