Dani Takes Charge As Standing Committee Chairperson, Bawankule Orders Flood-Free Nagpur

Nagpur: Maharashtra revenue minister and Nagpur district guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Monday issued a stern warning to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), saying that no household should incur financial losses due to flooding this monsoon.Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of newly elected standing committee chairperson Shivani Dani and transport committee chairperson Mangala Khekre, Bawankule said that rapid infrastructure expansion must go hand in hand with robust flood management plans. Bawankule urged corporators to continuously monitor cleanliness drive of rivers, nullahs and stormwater networks to ensure that not a single house gets flooded during monsoon season. He also flagged a glaring 40% water leakage in the city's distribution network, despite substantial water being reserved for irrigation purposes. Calling the situation "unacceptable", Bawankule stressed that plugging leakages and strengthening groundwater recharge are crucial not only to prevent monsoon flooding but also to avert summer water scarcity.Announcing a major push for groundwater recharge infrastructure, Bawankule said around 1,000 recharge shafts are being constructed annually, with a target of 5,000 over the next five years. The initiative aims to improve groundwater percolation, reduce stormwater run-off, and mitigate flood-like situations in vulnerable pockets. He directed civic officials to execute the work in mission mode before heavy rains set in.Referring to the NMC's 75-year journey, Bawankule reiterated the vision of transforming Nagpur into a "Green City, Clean City, and Safe City". He called for urgent desilting of nullahs and effective river cleaning, noting that choked drains remain the primary cause of recurring waterlogging. Urging the mayor Neeta Thakre to actively monitor works, he appealed for transparent, citizen-centric governance.