Pune:
Residents of ward number V, near Pulgate and adjoining areas of the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB), get no respite from mosquitoes. The reason: a canal taking water from Khadakwasla dam to the purification plant located behind St Mary's School is blocked with mounds of plastic bags and other refuse.
Although the canal belongs to the irrigation department, the task of keeping it clean lies with the PCB as it flows within its jurisdiction. The elected member of the board, Arti Sanjeev Mahajan, stays opposite the canal, but is unaware of its condition. "I have not been informed about the canal by the residents," she said.
The irked residents told DNA that they have been repeatedly complaining about the imperative need to clean the canal. "But all our pleas have fallen on deaf ears," they lamented. "We have even made repeated appeals to our elected member. However, she is least concerned. And we have nowhere to go," said Alyosious Pragasam, who resides in Canal Galli adjacent to the canal which is covered with a layer of muck.
Another aggrieved resident, Anthony Dass, questioned why the authorities are unable to carry out the simple task of cleaning the canal. "The authorities should at least think of the common people and solve our problem," said Dass.
According to the local residents, after the Ganesh festival, the condition of the canal has become worse. "The PCB is to be blamed for the mess," said Sachin Bhosale.
When contacted, one of the officials at the PCB office said it has not received any formal complaint so far. "But we will surely act and clean up the canal," the official said, requesting anonymity.
Some of the residents said that during the last PCB polls, they decided to elect a woman member, hoping she would be more sensitive and address the problems of the ward. "But even she has let us down. She is not concerned with the problems of the ward," rued the residents.
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