Double trouble: Stormwater work damages existing sewage network

Nagpur: At least four localities in south-west Nagpur are facing hardships due to two ongoing works — laying of stormwater network undertaken by Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) and cement road construction started by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC).
The stormwater work has damaged the existing sewage networks causing overflow while roadworks damaged the streetlights.

Residents of Atrey Layout in south-west Nagpur said that when NIT began laying stormwater drains, the underground sewage network of NMC got damaged.
This resulted in sewage water getting filled up in the newly dug pits.
In addition, due to the digging of the main road and the surrounding streets, motorists are facing hardships.
The road from PNDT Colony, Tatya Tope Nagar to Deo Nagar Square is closed for traffic as the NMC had taken up the road concretization work on this patch. “Streetlights cables were damaged due to digging of the road. After sunset, the patch gets pitch dark,” local residents pointed out.
Many layouts of NIT lack stormwater networks. Not surprisingly, these areas get waterlogged during the rainy season. In a meeting held a few months ago, NIT was directed to take necessary steps to resolve the issue.
Local residents said that the old and worn out sewage network in the Atrey Layout area was damaged during the stormwater works. They claimed that while some repair work was done, the problem still persists. “The officials said that there will be some seepage until the stormwater work is fully completed. However, the dug up spots are always filled with sewage water and the stench is unbearable. Mosquito menace has also increased,” they said.
Pointing out that stagnation of sewage water in front of the houses pose a health hazard, residents wondered why the NIT had taken up the work just ahead of monsoon.
Also, the dug up areas are not adequately barricaded, and could lead to road accidents.
Deputy municipal commissioner Milind Meshram, who is holding the additional charge of Laxmi Nagar zone, said that the matter has already been taken up with the NIT. He assured that the issue will be sorted out without any further delay.