Pune: Scores of residents of Ektanagari, one of Pune's most flood-prone colonies, are once again braced for a possible repeat of what happened last year.In July 2024, after days of heavy rain, people here had to be evacuated when the Khadakwasla dam — allegedly without warning — began to discharge water at a high rate.

In some parts of the colony, cars were seen floating in the water.Weeks later, then-chief minister Eknath Shinde would visit the flood-affected, promising them a host of solutions to their annual problem. Ektanagari should have never come up. Some of the homes here — at least 800 of them — are metres from the Mutha riverbank off Sinhagad Road, and within the ‘blue line', which marks land at risk of serious floods every 25 years.But Shinde said the govt would develop a new policy to address flood threats in Ektanagari and other parts of the city. He had also called for removal of construction debris from the riverbed to make space for water to flow.Nearly a year later, residents said not much has moved on the ground, despite Shinde's assurances. TOI spoke to those who were affected last year.Balasaheb Raut, owner of a laundry shop that was almost decimated by the floods, said his business is yet to recover.

"I'm still rebuilding and in debt. July 2024 was such a big tragedy. I was hoping for some financial relief from govt, but we got nothing," he said.Some financial aid was extended to homeowners, but many said the money was insufficient. "We got Rs 10,000," said resident Amar Shirsat, who lost everything from his TV set to most of his furniture. "I still remember coming home at night and seeing all the police. Everyone was worried about the rising water level.

2024 was a major setback. And I'm yet to see a relocation plan from the govt," he said.Ujwala Taral, a resident of Sham Sundar Apartments, said homeowners have submitted documents to PMC for the proposed cluster development plan, which hopes to move 1,383 residential units and about 67 shops away from flood-prone areas of Ektanagari, aswell as neighbouring Vitthalnagar and Nimbajnagar."People gave the documents, but that was it.

We 've not heard anything more of the plan from PMC," Taral said.Among more immediate measures, Taral pressed for better coordination between PMC and the irrigation department before releasing dam water.Hours before Ektanagari flooded last year, irrigation officials had increased Khadakwasla dam's discharge rate to 35,574 cubic metres per second (cusecs), around 6am. "There was no warning. The water entered our homes while we slept," Taral said.Ganesh Sonune, head of PMC's disaster management cell, said steps are being taken to prevent flooding in Ektanagari this year."A dedicated help desk is being set up in the locality for emergencies. The administration has also identified schools in the area where people could shelter if Khadakwasla dam begins to discharge water," he said.