CM orders probe in flooding of Legislature complex in Nagpur

The Maharashtra government has ordered an inquiry into the flooding of the state Legislature complex here after heavy rains last week.

The inquiry would ascertain loopholes in arrangements for the monsoon session and if problems were deliberately left unattended, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in the Legislative Assembly here today.

The people affected due to heavy rains in the city would also be compensated, he said.

The city is hosting the monsoon session of the state Legislature but on Friday both the Assembly and the Council were adjourned for the day, shortly after convening, due to a power blackout caused by rains.

The power supply had been turned off after the switching centre that provides electricity to the Assembly complex was flooded following heavy rains in the second capital of Maharashtra.

Fadnavis said the Legislature building's power supply was turned off on Friday to prevent short-circuit.

"Normally heavy rain in Nagpur is around 150 mm. But on Friday, the city received 282 mm rainfall and between 8.30 am and 2.30 pm 264 mm rainfall was recorded," he noted.

The city had received a record 300 mm rainfall in a day in 1994, he said, adding that drains were designed with a capacity of 125 mm.

"The water-logging occurred due to the ongoing construction works. Disaster management was activated. The police helped people affected by heavy rains (on July 6)," he said.

"An inquiry will be done to find out whether there was a deliberate attempt not to fix loopholes, if any, and whether steps were taken to prevent flooding in the Vidhan Bhawan premises," he said.

Earlier, as soon as the House assembled for the day's proceedings and Speaker Haribhau Bagade called for the Question Hour, Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said taxpayers' money was wasted since the day's proceedings got washed out on July 6.

The chief minister should apologise to the people of Nagpur, Vikhe Patil said.

"Who will take responsibility for the day's washout of proceedings. There are no adequate preparations as the session is being held in Nagpur during monsoon after 47 years...drains are choked. Responsibilities should be fixed and proper action should be taken," he said.

The LoP also said heavy rains lashed Mumbai since early this morning and the megapolis came to a "standstill".

"There is no disaster management in place," he said.

NCP leader Ajit Pawar sought to know at whose insistence the session was being held in Nagpur during rains.

The state's capital city and the second capital get water-logged during rains, he pointed out and asked, "who is responsible for the waste of taxpayers' money?"