Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Water Resources Department have issued flood warnings for low-lying neighbourhoods after Khadakwasla Dam began releasing 2,000 cusecs of water into the Mutha River today. Citizens in riverside areas are urged to remain vigilant as precautionary measures come into effect amid persistent rains.
At around 1 pm, Khadakwasla Dam’s sluice gates were partially opened, initiating a controlled outflow into the Mutha River. The Water Resources Department cited increasing inflows from upstream catchment areas as the rationale for the release. In tandem, the PMC’s additional commissioner stressed that municipal teams must issue alerts and tackle emerging waterlogging promptly. Control Officer of the Central Flood Control Room emphasised that the discharge is preventive, designed to avert uncontrolled overflow. “Residents near the riverbed should remain alert and avoid venturing close to the river,” officials advised. Affected zones include Sinhagad Road, Mhatre Bridge, Deccan, Shivane, and Erandwane, all historically vulnerable during dam releases.
Municipal authorities have instructed ward-level vigilance across key civic bodies — including the District Collectorate, PMC Disaster Management Cell, Divisional Commissioner’s office, Police Commissionerate, PMRDA, and the state electric utility control room in Rasta Peth. These agencies remain on standby with pumps, jets, JCBs, rubber boats and public announcement systems ready for rapid deployment . Local concerns have surfaced: residents report water advancing toward ground-level flats and livestock yards, with limited time to relocate possessions before levels rise. Historical precedent matters — during the 2019 flood, sudden dam discharges contributed to over 22 fatalities and massive displacement.
Experts highlight systemic pressure on Pune’s water management infrastructure during the monsoon. An urban hydrology specialist noted that “controlled dam releases must sync with city drainage capacity, or floodwater backup will overrun communities.” This emphasises the need for green infrastructure, buffer zones and efficient catchment-flow systems to manage excess water sustainably. The current release arrives as Khadakwasla Dam reaches about 75 % capacity, with heavy inflows demanding proactive regulation. Additional precaution is now in place for nearby reservoirs like Vadivale and Kasarsai, which have exceeded 75 % capacity and could initiate their own releases
PMC’s disaster response cells have already flagged 71 municipal shelters and kept 24/7 flood control rooms operational across all 15 wards. They are also clearing choked drains, pruning fallen branches, and restoring bridge structures city‑wide under instructions from civic engineers . Challenges remain: Pune’s rapid urban expansion has seen riverbanks fortified with informal dwellings and informal encroachments, limiting the city’s ability to absorb flood pulses. Authorities recently raised alarm over illegal constructions around dam catchments—some discharging wastewater—prompting commitments to enforce removal orders and support aquatic health .
Environmental analysts point out that unchecked dam releases risk undermining PMC’s sustainability and carbon‑neutral goals. Increased flood risk forces commuters into private transport, exacerbating congestion and emissions—curling back into the city’s carbon strategy. For residents, the messaging is explicit: relocate livestock and valuables from the riverbed, avoid riverfront outings, and monitor official sources for updates. Alert systems include loudspeaker announcements in vulnerable zones that have previously been criticised for being delayed. This time, a more coordinated early-warning approach appears to be in place.
Looking ahead, monsoon precipitation is expected to continue through the weekend. Inflows may rise again, pressuring dam releases and heightening flood potential . Coordination among dam supervisors, municipal services, and local residents will be essential to manage this hydrological tightrope. Ultimately, this controlled release underscores the urgent need for systemic reform: from expanding city drainage networks and river buffer zones to adopting natural absorption systems and strengthening informal settlement resilience. Moreover, enforcing clean catchments by dismantling illegal constructions will be vital to sustaining water quality.
In the immediate term, civic departments remain alert and prepared to escalate warnings or even execute precautionary evacuations. For Pune to safeguard lives and infrastructure, proactivity and integration must replace reactive flood management. Only through cohesive, equitable, and ecologically conscious urban planning can monsoon challenges be transformed into resilience-building opportunities.
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