Former Environment Minister and current MLA Aaditya Thackeray launched a sharp attack on the state government on Thursday over the severe waterlogging in Pune, blaming poor urban planning and controversial development projects for the city’s recurring flooding issues.
Taking to social media, Thackeray said, “The government has been successful at one thing — converting rivers into roads and roads into rivers.” He pointed to the controversial River Front Development (RFD) project, which has faced criticism from environmentalists and citizens alike for its ecological impact and disregard for sustainable planning.
“You, and those who have studied the River Front Development /Destruction project, have been warning the city of this for a long time now,” Thackeray added, echoing the concerns of experts who have repeatedly cautioned against the concretization of riverbeds and natural drainage systems.
This comes amidst the concerns over frequent waterlogging in Pune. Heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds lashed Pune on Tuesday, plunging the city into chaos. Incidents of waterlogging, traffic congestion, power outages, wall and hoarding collapses, and even a fatal electrocution were reported from several areas.
A 10-year-old boy, identified as Mayank alias Dadu Pradeep Adagale, died due to electrocution in the Warje area. The child reportedly touched an electric pole in front of his house while heavy rain was lashing the city, leading to a fatal shock.
Severe traffic jams and waterlogging were reported across Pune, especially in Shivaji Nagar, Baner, Kondhwa, Katraj, Hadapsar, Dhayari, Lohegaon, Viman Nagar, and Kothrud. Vehicles were seen swept away in Kondhwa, where a wall also collapsed. Hoardings collapsed in Wagholi and Dhanori, while road cave-ins were reported on Warje and Satara Road. The newly inaugurated Sinhagad Road flyover experienced major congestion.
