Nagpur: Rains since the last few days have put paid to pre-monsoon works undertaken by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) as complaints of water-logging have multiplied overnight. Take any road and one is bound to come across water-filled potholes. Water-logging in the aftermath of the first spell of rains in a way exposes the shortcoming that remained in the works carried out by NMC machinery.
It’s the same old story as the same old spots continue to remain water-logged indicating no measures were undertaken to take corrective measures. Despite having on rolls, hundreds of engineers, NMC top brass failed to have any plan or otherwise the sorry situation that prevails in the aftermath of every other spell of rains would have been exactly reversed today. Adding to the problem, is the presence of multiple agencies in the city, the NIT, the PWD apart from NMC, and there seems to be no coordinated efforts between different departments and the citizens of Nagpur are paying the price for the sorry state of affairs.
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To make matters worse at a few places, the civic body has gone out of way to create problems due to its over zealousness for work without giving a damn about the topography of the road. For example, due to plans to construct a wall below Ram Jhula, the problem of water- logging on either side has multiplied. So much so that now knee deep water gets accumulated on either side which has affected the connectivity. NMC officials said a solution to prevent water logging in front of Poddareshwar Ram Mandir and on the other side near Mayo Hospital would be possible only after the monsoon recedes. Till then citizens and road users would have to bear with water-logging as there is no other solution right now. One does not know how NMC functions, as in first place they took-up work to construct a compound wall below Ram Jhula that obstructed the water flow apart from causing innumerable problems to commuters.
Apart from that now water accumulation occurs on Inner Ring Road, at Swavalambi Nagar Square, where till date no solution has been found. New spots have further emerged on the Road, including Mangalmurti Square and near IT Park Square where water remains accumulated in the aftermath of rains. The road comes under the Public Works Department (PWD)but those officials are least bothered about the problems of citizens.
Further elsewhere at Automotive Square also, one of the busiest squares, the accumulation of water creates obstacles in movement of the vehicles. The spot sees criss-crossing of heavy traffic throughout the day and in addition a number of two wheelers also use the square and water logging creates dangerous situations for the road users. The area is surrounded by densely populated localities and they have to inadvertently move onto Kamptee Road to other parts of the city.
Now water logging is also seen at Congress Nagar which till now was free from the scourge. This indicates that the storm water drains were not thoroughly cleaned or the pre-monsoon exercise was just an eye wash. Time and again civic officials turned a blind eye to non lifting of silt removed on nullah beds and hence water remains stagnant on city roads for a much longer period.
Due to overflowing of drains the foul water is polluting the atmosphere in the city and in the rainy season it may trigger an outbreak of viral diseases. Citizens said at least when corporators were around they could seek help from them. Now with Administrator in-charge of the situation the public contact seems to have been completely snapped. Officials do not respond to citizens complaints nor there is any time bound plan for redressal of complaints.
