Pre-Monsoon check: Part VII: Boats plan goes adrift

PMC sits on proposal to buy 6 dinghies for rescue work during floods; discussion deferred thrice at GB meeting

Pre-Monsoon check: Part VII: Boats plan goes adrift

PMC sits on proposal to buy 6 dinghies for rescue work during floods; discussion deferred thrice at GB meeting

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is so used to sitting on its plan to procure rescue boats before the impending monsoon that deferring a discussion on the same has become a habit for its general body (GB) rather than necessitated eventuality. So in case of a deluge this monsoon, expect no PMC knights in shining armour to rescue you out of your distress.

Desperately needed: Even if the general body the approves plan, it will
take another five or six months before the boats can be procured.
Representative pic

After the massive floods that wreaked havoc in the city last year, the civic body, in January, had proposed to purchase six-folding boats hoping to keep the city and its people out of the deep waters. But the plan is yet to be discussed in the general body meeting, let alone floating of tenders for final procurement.u00a0
Every time the proposal was to be discussed in the general body meeting, it was postponed to the next one at least thrice since January.

Moreover, even if the general body now approves it, it will be at least four or five months before the boats can beu00a0 procured as the Standing Committee has to give the nod for the tendering procedures. Last year, several areas in the city were inundated. Also, in the way of the raging waters were the lawns of former Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Zagade's official residence and its boundary walls, both of which were badly damaged.
Giving a noncommittal slant to his replies, Pravin Ashtikar, deputy commissioner, PMC, in-charge of the Disaster Management Cell, said: "The general body has to first approve the purchase after which steps can be taken. I can't comment on the general body or the Standing Committee's functioning," Ashtikar said.

Helpline useless
MiD DAY's report last year on June 22 (God may help you, but not the PMC helpline) exposed how the service started by the Disaster Management Flood Control Cell (DMFCC) on June 1 was a complete failure. Twelve calls on regular intervals on 25501263 and 25501130 went unanswered. On the 13th attempt, it was attended by a security guard, who cited it being a Sunday the reason for PMC inertia. Areas like NIBM Road, Jangali Maharaj Road, Shivaji Nagar, Rastapeth, Senapati Bapat Road and areas near the RTO office were inundated in the monsoon last year.