Govt ignores report on Maha climate change: IT hub Pune digs own grave

A warning had come to the Maharashtra government that Pune would be prone to floods as early as 2014 Of course in the manner of most things government the warning was ignored Result Severe rainfall this week has left 22 people in Pune city dead and four missing Rainfall of 106 mm fell in the city over only two days last weekmdashTuesday and Wednesday Yet 16000 people had to be evacuated to safety from not just Pune City but areas like Baramati Bhor Purandhar Saswad and KhedShivapurAll this could have been avoided says Sarang Yadwadkar had the state government paid heed to the report that had been kept on its desk by the The Energy and Resources Institute TERI a Delhibased research institute that specialises in the fields of energy environment and sustainable developmentAmbil Odha floods housing localities in Sahkar Nagar Pune PicMandar TannuYadwadkar says that the 2014 report commissioned by the government interestingly studied the impact of climate change across Maharashtra And the report said that several areas would receive 375 per cent more rain in fewer days due to climate change Yet no action was taken Even measures suggested by the report to mitigate the effects of climate change and the rapid urban development faced by the city were not acted uponTERI was appointed to conduct a nationwide study after the central government gave instructions to study the effects of climate change in 2009 Its 2014 report to the Maharashtra state government clearly indicated increased occurrence of cloudbursts along with higher annual average rainfall Yadwadkar says that the report also specified that in the coming decades annual rainfall would increase by almost 375 per cent As a precautionary measure the stormwater drainage capacity of Pune should have been increased However the authorities have failed to do this Yadwadkar saysSites of destruction due to the rain are common around Pune This is a shed near Karhar riverTitled Assessing Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Strategies for Maharashtra Maharashtra State Adaptation Action Plan on Climate Change MSAAPC the TERI report a copy of which is with midday stated that while the IMD states that the annual mean temperature in Pune is 2522ordmCelsius due to climate change the temperature would rise by 115 ndash 128ordmC by 2030The report also states that the citys average rainfall of 8522 mm will see an increase of between 10 mm to 325 mm by 2030 In order to prevent floodlike situation and preserve the biodiversity the report states Enhance tree cover in cities with high growth in periurban areas like PuneThe 2014 TERI report had warned against the increasing growth rate in Pune and Thane Thane and Pune have registered high growth rates 359 and 303 respectively in the last decade The current growth rate has increased the population density of the State to around 365 persons per sq km as compared to 315 in 2001 The report which discusses the impacts of climate change on agriculture livelihoods and how to mitigate these affects also discusses predicted rise in demands for better cooling systems and calls for promotion of solarpowered systems and green roofsA river obstructedWhat was once the Pensioners Paradise has in the last decade become a bustling satellite city to Mumbai thanks to the IT hub that has made home here While the economy of the city has for sure been given a boost the other industry that has seen a rise is Pune is the realestate business with demands for homes increasing This say environmentalists has meant increased encroachment along river banksYadwadkar points to the rampant encroachment along Ambil Odha which originates from the Sahyadris near Purandhar Fort He says that had Ambil Odha been identified as a river instead of a natural water stream in the Pune Municipal development planmdashas demanded by the green activists for the last two yearsmdashthe development boundaries could have been easily drawn But in this case construction nears the edge thus narrowing its water carrying capacity and endangering those living alongside itSewage and drainage lines passing through the stream thus blocking it further Another issue is the second stream that originates from the basin of Katraj hill This one is encumbered by excavation projects and cutting of trees which increased the force with which the water flowsEven water bodies have a temperament which should not be disturbed said Yadwadkar Punes Guardian Minister Chandrakant Patil admitted to the issue a few days ago saying its not just Ambil Odha but the problem of encroachment along water bodies is rampant across the city While an investigation is needed he said it would now have to be done post the assembly elections as a code of conduct was in place On TERIs report PMC Commissioner Saurabh Rao said Neither I nor any department of PMC has got any such report When asked about encroachment along with water bodies he refused to comment10325mmIncreased rainfall predicted by 2030 in report375The percentage increase of rainfall Pune is likely to see by 2030Catch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates