Pune: Flood-Prone Ekta Nagari Sees No Buyers Despite Residents Offering Low Prices
Pune: Flood-Prone Ekta Nagari Sees No Buyers Despite Residents Offering Low Prices
Residents of Ekta Nagari, a flood-prone locality near the Mutha River on Sinhagad Road, are struggling to sell their flats, even at reduced rates, due to recurrent flooding during monsoon seasons. With 20 to 25 buildings and nearly 3,000 residents, the area has faced increasing challenges as water levels rise every year.
Despite attempts by many homeowners to sell their properties at lower-than-market prices, there has been little interest from potential buyers. Residents like Mangesh Jadhav highlight that while the area was initially under Vadgaon Budruk Gram Panchayat and had the necessary permissions, it was re-designated as a residential zone when included in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in 2000. Now, with frequent flooding, many are trying to move out but are finding no takers.
On August 3, after 36,000 cusecs of water were released from the Khadakwasla dam, 125 people were evacuated from the area as a precaution. Despite visits from political leaders, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, no long-term solutions have been found to resolve the flooding concerns.
Real estate experts while speaking to Hindustan Times confirmed that while many residents are eager to sell, buyers are hesitant due to the area’s vulnerability to flooding. Mahesh Sathe, another resident, stresses the misperception that the area is on a riverbed, emphasizing that it is riverside, but acknowledges the growing fear of annual inundation.
Residents remain trapped, unable to sell and move away, as the flood risk continues to impact the desirability of properties in Ekta Nagari.
