Pune: Drainage Crisis Persists; 7 Days, Mohammadwadi Residents Allege PMC Inaction
Reported by Shoaib Tadvi
Mohammadwadi, 18th July 2026: Seven days after a major drainage overflow was first reported, residents of Raheja Vista Phase 3 in NIBM Annexe, Mohammadwadi, say the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has failed to provide a permanent solution, with sewage continuing to spill onto internal roads and posing a serious public health risk.
Despite repeated complaints, foul-smelling sewage continues to overflow across several stretches of the residential locality, forcing residents, schoolchildren, senior citizens and visitors to walk through contaminated water daily. The stagnant wastewater has created an unbearable stench and heightened fears of water-borne diseases during the ongoing monsoon season.
Residents allege that the area’s drainage infrastructure is either damaged or incapable of handling the existing sewage load. They claim PMC has only carried out temporary cleaning operations, while the overflow returns within days, leaving the underlying issue unresolved.
Hussain Shaikh, a resident of Ganga Kingston, criticised the civic administration for failing to address the problem despite collecting taxes from citizens.
“PMC is prompt when it comes to collecting property taxes, penalties and other civic charges, but when taxpayers demand basic infrastructure, the administration looks the other way. For seven days, residents have been living amid overflowing sewage. This is not merely an inconvenience but a serious public health hazard. The civic administration must fix accountability and immediately execute permanent repairs,” he said.
Resident Jaymala Dhankikar said repeated complaints have resulted only in temporary measures.
“We have informed the authorities several times, but the response has been limited to temporary measures. Within a short period, the sewage starts overflowing again. Residents deserve a permanent solution, not repeated assurances,” she said.
Another resident, Shoaib Shaikh, said the recurring issue highlights poor civic planning and maintenance.
“Every monsoon we face the same crisis. Families, children and senior citizens are forced to walk through sewage. It is unacceptable that such a serious health issue continues unchecked despite repeated complaints,” he said.
Sanjay Ahir called for a comprehensive technical assessment of the drainage system.
“The recurring overflow clearly indicates a structural failure in the drainage system. Instead of temporary desilting, PMC must identify the root cause, replace damaged infrastructure where required and ensure that residents do not suffer every monsoon,” he said.
Residents further alleged that stagnant sewage has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, increasing the risk of diseases such as dengue, malaria and gastroenteritis.
They have demanded that the PMC immediately deploy senior engineering officials to inspect the drainage network, clear blockages, replace damaged pipelines and implement a permanent, long-term solution. Residents warned that if the issue remains unresolved despite a week of complaints, they will intensify their protest and seek accountability from the civic administration.
