Rain Rain..So much Rain..

Rain plays havoc

Heavy rains that have been lashing the city for the past few days have left us with pot-holed roads, non functional signals and long hours of load shedding. Areas like Kalyani Nagar and Bhawani Peth seem to be bearing the brunt

Aditi Thirani

We were assured of better conditions this monsoon - no power cuts, good roads and less water logging. Somehow they seem to have remained promises on paper. Heavy rains that have been lashing the city for the past few days have left us with pot-holed roads, non functional signals and long hours of load shedding.

Areas like Aundh, Pashan, Baner, Kalyani Nagar and Bhawani Peth seem to be affected by both the rains and load shedding. The Camp area too has to put up with water logging that is taking place due to the collection of garbage. Plastic carry bags add to drainage problems as they stop the flow of water, resulting in choked drains at a number of places. "When it rains, garbage lying around societies and dumps flows into drains, resulting in their clogging," says Nicole Fernandes, a resident of Camp.

"Waterlogging is a major problem in our area. Thankfully there are not many problems relating to leaking sewage pipes, otherwise this area would be a hell hole," says Dnyanesh Phadtare, a resident of Bhawani Peth. Newly built roads are also causing chaotic traffic jams. "Traffic problems have started growing at Adlabs Chowk due to rubble of the newly built road lying on different stretches. Water collects near Kalyani Restaurant and on the mouth of Kalyaninagar near Gurunank Dairy. As a resident I face a lot of problems every morning," says Hari, a resident of Kalyaninagar.

Roadside rubble and concrete chips on Sus Road, Pashan are a great hazard for two-wheelers which have to drive at a snails pace while on this stretch. It may be mentioned here that the road has been tarred recently but it has become more dangerous because a road roller has not been used to level the uneven concrete pieces that are dangerously jutting out on the road. "This is very dangerous for us on two-wheelers. I travel by this route every morning to attend classes, praying that I don’t skid or slip. It’s difficult to gauge the depth of potholes and if it’s large the Scooty tyre just falls in," says Anu Shama, a resident of Aundh.

Recently water logging was so acute that a wall in the compound near theirs collapsed causing huge losses. "The first heavy showers led to collapse of the common compound wall of Gulmohar Apartments and Prime Heights. Rain water flowing from the nearby hill loosened the foundation and pushed against the wall, causing it to collapse. The debris were strewn around a radius of 15 feet, entering the parking lot of the adjoining society," says Anu. "Most residents in Vardayini Society on Sus Road are facing a similar problem," says Anu.

Adding to the problems of water logging are long spells of power cuts. Power cuts are so erratic in certain pockets of the city that sometimes they have known to go off for seven to twelve hours at a stretch. "Power cuts take place without warning these days. It’s so bad that you can’t prepare yourself or make plans in advance," says Nicole.

At times the power failure is so acute that water pumps and lifts are not able to function for two days at a stretch. "At times, during heavy rains there is a short circuit on the main electric pole. If this happens we have to go without electricity for days together," says Mandakini Phadtare a resident of Bhawani Peth. In fact, so acute is the power problem, that in many areas it goes off as soon as it starts raining. Driving at night through these pockets is a nightmare. Water logging and power cuts are making life difficult for Puneites who have to put up with loads of other problems during the monsoon.