A week after flagging 67 waterlogging-prone spots, west Pune residents still await PMC action; officials say work on

Pune: Residents of Baner, Balewadi, Sus, Mhalunge and Pashan on Tuesday accused Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) of doing nothing to address waterlogging-prone areas, even a week after they submitted a list of 67 such spots to civic officials seeking remedial measures. Officials from the engineering department of the Aundh-Baner ward, however, said most of the work was under way and would be completed before the monsoon.The residents had identified 67 vulnerable spots across west Pune, including 34 in Baner, 15 in Balewadi, 12 in Sus, four in Mhalunge and two in Pashan, last month. The list included key details like location, landmarks, type of issue and contact persons to help the administration assess recurring problems.Of these, 59 locations faced waterlogging every year, causing inconvenience to pedestrians and disrupting traffic, the residents said. Sarang Wable, a resident of Shivneri Park in Balewadi who helped compile the data, said the initiative was meant to assist PMC in prioritising critical areas. “We tried to provide all necessary information in one go so the administration could act quickly. Unfortunately, nothing has been done. With rains approaching, we may again face waterlogging and traffic chaos,” he said.Vijay Naykal, assistant municipal commissioner and Aundh-Baner ward office, said the work has already started and would be completed before monsoons started.Several residents highlighted specific concerns. Sonal Gadkari from Concord Proxima in Baner said the approach road to her society became unusable during monsoon. “Only vehicles can pass. There are nearby slum settlements, and clogged sewage pipelines lead to backflow during heavy rain. No PMC official has even visited after we submitted the complaint,” she said.Rajendra Gadhave from Mhalunge echoed similar frustration. “We have written letters, sent emails and even met officials in person. Still, no action. Drains remain uncleared and STP water overflows, creating foul conditions,” he said.Other residents pointed to recurring civic issues, including overflowing manholes at Wakeshwar Chowk on the Pashan-Sus Road and waterlogged underpasses in Baner that cause severe congestion during monsoon.Responding to the allegations, PMC officials from the Aundh-Baner ward office said that most locations had been inspected. A deputy engineer said some spots fall under private property, limiting civic intervention, while certain underpasses fall under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).“Work has already been carried out at several locations, including cleaning of drains. The remaining work will be completed before the monsoon,” the official said.