With the monsoon fast approaching, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) is in a race against time to clean all 227 major stormwater drains in the city. So far, only 154 drains have been fully cleaned, yielding over 4,070 tonnes of silt and waste, while work is ongoing on 29 drains and 44 are yet to be addressed.
The drains, spanning a combined 242.45 km, are critical to preventing urban flooding during heavy rains. The NMC has set May 30 as the final deadline for completion. Failure to meet it could lead to serious waterlogging in several areas.
Among zones, Gandhibagh has the highest number of drains (51), while the Mangalwari Zone leads in total drain length with 56.70 km across 29 drains. Lakadganj Zone has the fewest, with just 10 drains stretching 12.30 km.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Vasumana Pant has been personally reviewing progress and has issued strict directives to expedite the remaining work. She also ordered that drains which have re-accumulated silt after cleaning be cleared again using additional manpower.
Deputy Commissioner Dr. Gajendra Mahalle confirmed that of the 29 drains currently being cleaned, 14 are being handled manually and 15 using machines. He assured that all pending drains will be cleaned by the May 30 deadline.
With flooding risks looming, the city’s pre-monsoon preparedness now hinges on the timely completion of this critical operation.
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