5 days ago
Datke demands urgent drain cleaning in Central Nagpur
Nagpur: Central Nagpur MLA Pravin Datke on Tuesday criticised the civic administration for its failure to complete desilting of key drains ahead of monsoon. The BJP leader, accompanied by former corporators and party functionaries, reviewed flood-mitigation efforts in a high-level meeting with Municipal Commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari and civic officials at Nagpur Municipal Corporation's headquarters in Civil Lines.
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Datke directed NMC to prioritise cleaning operations in areas like Hatti Nala, Rahatekarwadi Nala, Jamdar School vicinity, Lendi Talao stretch, and the drain near Raman Science Centre. "Water stagnation and garbage blockages in these drains have become a recurring nightmare for citizens. Immediate action must be taken before heavy rains arrive," he told officials, warning of public backlash if negligence continues.
The meeting also exposed broader civic failures. BJP city president and former Mayor Dayashankar Tiwari criticised the administration for disbanding a zonal desilting team that earlier handled stormwater drains in narrow Central Nagpur lanes. "Now a centralised team is overburdened, and our zones are neglected," he said. Tiwari also criticised the delay in procuring a Rs1.5 crore 'octopus' sewer machine sanctioned during his tenure, lamenting that NMC continues to rent equipment instead.
"Public suffering has peaked, and there's no grievance redressal in the absence of elected corporators," said Datke. "For three years, civic basics are being ignored. If issues aren't resolved within a month, we will take to the streets," he warned.
