Pune, 24 June 2025: Even after four days of clear weather following heavy rainfall, several roads in Pune remain flooded with foul-smelling sewage water spilling out of drainage chambers. Commuters, especially two-wheeler riders and pedestrians, continue to face splashes of dirty water as jurisdictional disputes between the Drainage Department and zonal offices delay timely cleaning work.

Every year, crores of rupees are allocated to the city’s drainage department and regional offices for the maintenance and repair of sewage pipelines. To ensure better monitoring, 450 roads have been marked and responsibility is divided between the main department and zonal offices. However, in the past, superficial cleaning left silt inside pipelines, leading to frequent blockages.

Instead of ensuring deep cleaning, authorities often opted to lay new pipelines citing damage, incurring expenses of nearly ₹60 crore annually. A revised plan was introduced with clear accountability and two working shifts, from 8 am to 4 pm and from 4 pm to midnight, which reportedly reduced complaints by 40 percent.

However, this year’s heavy downpour has exposed old loopholes. Rainwater has entered sewage lines at multiple spots, and open chambers have collected mud, gravel, and stones, choking pipelines. As a result, dirty water continues to flow onto roads, posing health hazards and inconveniencing citizens.

Although each zonal office is equipped with grab, recycle, and suction machines, their underutilisation has slowed down the cleaning process. Drainage Department Superintendent Engineer Dinkar Gojare admitted that work in the second shift has been inadequate and assured that improvements will be made soon to restore normalcy.