Shiv Sena stages agitation against poor quality pre-monsoon work, waterlogging in Pune

Pune: Shiv Sena workers of the Pune unit on Monday staged a protest at the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) headquarters against the inferior quality of pre-monsoon works and waterlogging following recent showers.

The protestors alleged that the situation had exposed the PMC’s mismanagement and failure to complete infrastructure work on time.

“Contracts worth crores were awarded for nullah cleaning, but the situation on the ground has not improved. The administration should explain why the city continues to face waterlogging,” said Sena leader Nana Bhangire.

Civic officials, however, said repairs and nullah-cleaning works are currently underway.

Party workers also claimed that the civic administration had failed to make adequate efforts to remove hyacinth from water bodies across the city, leading to health concerns. They said mosquito breeding had increased because of the unchecked growth, resulting in a rise in vector-borne diseases in areas surrounding the water bodies.

As part of the protest, the agitators brought a boat to symbolically highlight the waterlogging issue and attempted to barge into the civic headquarters, but were stopped by security guards.

“Ward-wise works are being carried out, and the PMC is strictly following the timetable to complete the pre-monsoon works,” said a senior PMC official on the condition of anonymity.

According to the official, around 70% of the work across the city has been completed.