Nashik civic chief tells officials to complete pre-monsoon works by May-end

Nashik: Municipal commissioner Manisha Khatri on Tuesday directed all civic departments to expedite pending pre-monsoon works and ensure their completion by the end of May, amid concerns over potential waterlogging and public safety during the upcoming rains.

Chairing a review meeting, Khatri instructed officials of Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) to prioritise cleaning of stormwater lines, chambers, manholes and nullahs within the stipulated deadline. She emphasised that permanent measures must be completed at all identified waterlogging-prone locations across the city’s six divisions.

NMC has identified 211 waterlogging hotspots, including 67 in Cidco, 39 in Nashik Road, 31 in Satpur, 26 in Nashik East, and 24 each in Nashik West and Panchavati, where interventions are underway to ensure smooth rainwater flow.

Officials said debris accumulation due to ongoing roadworks has clogged several stormwater chambers, which are now being cleared on a war footing. In parallel, the civic body has intensified sanitation and health drives, including fogging and cleanliness campaigns, to prevent monsoon-related diseases.

Khatri also directed officials to speed up cleaning of the Nandini river, a tributary of the Godavari, and to complete pending road repairs to minimise inconvenience to citizens during the monsoon.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) has undertaken maintenance and tree pruning works, leading to temporary power disruptions in some areas, with authorities requesting public cooperation.

Despite the directives, residents have reported delays in several parts of the city. “Works such as cleaning of nullahs, stormwater lines, chambers, manholes, installing iron grills for rainwater drainage, and addressing waterlogging hotspots must be carried out at the earliest before the monsoon. However, work is yet to begin in many parts of the city. Garbage and plastic waste continue to accumulate in nullahs and open stormwater lines, while manholes remain clogged,” said Prashant Wagh, a resident.

Khatri reiterated that timely completion and quality execution of all pre-monsoon works remain critical, stressing that public safety is the administration’s top priority.