Reasons of river flooding identified

Reasons of river flooding identified

Pune: Experts working with Ramnadi Restoration Mission (RRM) under the aegis of Kirloskar Vasundhara have analysed the unprecedented flooding of Ramnadi last monsoon. The RRM has identified problems and made recommendations to the government. 

The report summarising this has been authored by experts and activists Shailaja Deshpande and Dr Gurudas Nulkar, with the editorial assistance of Sanjeev Jagtap. The report has identified multiple problems by dividing the river into different regions.

“In the source region of Khatpewadi, Bhukum and Bhugaon, the main problems that led to the flooding was loss of tree cover, encroachment by buildings and homes that led to change in the natural drainage of the landscapes and choking or diverting of first order streams of the river. In the floodplains of Bhugaon, Bavdhan, Baner, Pashan and Aundh, the problems were changes in natural river banks due to encroachments and narrowing of river channels,” Nulkar said.

The report recommended a holistic approach to flood mitigation which includes ‘ecological measures’ to improve the river’s capacity to manage floods, ‘technological measures’ to reduce short-term impact of storm drains, pollution and solid waste ingress, and policy measures to improve the situation and ensure further degradation is stopped.

“We have to spread awareness amongst people about how their actions can affect the river, and them in turn. Every person in the river basin must be involved in its conservation, only then we will be able to make a difference,” said environmentalist Vinod Bodhankar.

Ecological measures proposed in report

  • Protection of catchment area in source region. No tree cutting, no flattening of landscape, no blocking of streams.
  • Maintain and increase mosaic character of the source so that water percolation and drainage is not affected. The source comprises tree cover, farms, fallow lands and human settlements.
  • Maintain/ increase closed canopy of forests in source region.
  • Clear all streams.
  • Maintain river width closer to original.
  • Residential areas must have softscapes. Societies must maintain at least 15 per cent soil cover in their campus.
  • No construction along banks in floodplains.
  • Maintain environmental flows as mandated by NGT.

Ramnadi flood

  • Inland river floods are of two types: fluvial, which happens when excessive rainfall over long periods exceeds capacity of the river to hold and transport water and pluvial flooding, which happens when the land, where excessive rainfall occurs, is unable to drain or absorb the rainwater leading to inundation of low-lying areas. What happened in Baner, Bavdhan, Pashan (areas surrounding Ramnadi) was a combination of both these types.

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