Garbage in, garbage out

Gutters on FC and JM roads filled with muck, dry leaves; waste dredged out from drains dumped on road

In the fourth instalment of the pre-monsoon campaign, MiD DAY checks nullahs and drainages abutting the two most bustling roads in the city, namely Junglee Maharaj and Fergusson College roads. Although the civic officials claim that pre-monsoon cleaning of drainages is underway and almost done, MiD DAY noticed some of the gutters here were brimming with muck and debris.


Down the drain: The grime ferreted out of the drainage is left on the
road near Jhansi ki Rani chowk on JM Road

JM Road
MiD DAY surveyed the JM Road and saw that not only was a gutter near the Rani Laxmibai Chowk left unclean, but also some of the muck ferreted out from these were lying on the road. This exacerbates the situation during heavy rains, as the sewer garbage kept on the side of roads, often flows back into the nullahs and chokes drains completely.

A team of about six people including Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) workers and two engineers from the Ghole Road Ward Office was present at the spot. Asked about the muck lying around, Junior Engineer Prithviraj Naik said the dredged out grime had been left to dry before it could be disposed off. "By Monday, both these works will be completed. We are also carrying out other works in the Ghole Road Ward Office limits," said Naik. He also admitted that JM Road is prone to severe flooding and past monsoons have proven so. "This year we have taken drainage cleaning more seriously," said Naik.


Au00a0drainage line on the footpath near Fergusson College holds plastic
waste, debris and dry leaves. Pic/parth satam

Fc Road
MiD DAY observed that the gutters on the foothpath adjoining the Fergusson College was packed with mud and dry leaves. Junior Engineer VN Indrakshe said that small leaves and plants from the nearby trees often fell into the gutters, some of which were covered with iron grills. "There is less dirt from the road surface in gutters when the manholes have concrete lids. By Monday, the cleaning will be complete," promised Indrakshe.
On Monday, MiD DAY will revisit the spots to check if the PMC has acted on its promise.

Let us know
Have a problem with the drainage, or flooding in your area? Call our reporters Parth Satam on 67016021 or Vivek Sabnis 66052458. You can also e-mail us on monsoonmenace.midday@ gmail.com