While the citizens are promptly fined, there are several examples where the PCMC itself has been responsible for keeping its own land in a state of utter filth. One such glaring instance is gnawing the residents in Kasarwadi.

Among the many plots which have become a home for grime and garbage in Kasarwadi is a vast piece of land reserved for a primary school. It is located near the crematorium in Ward No 35. The domestic waste from the nearby localities has got accumulated on a major part of the reserved land which has turned into a cesspool, emanating foul smell and breeding mosquitoes.

The land has not been fenced, allowing pigs and buffaloes to wallow in the filth. However, they do not stop at that. After a bout of ``cooling and frolicking,'' the four-legged creatures stomp all over the place, irritating the residents no end. No amount of shooing away works here.

If the harried residents are to be believed, no cleaning up operation has taken place ``for the last three years.'' There is a small outlet which is supposed to carry the waste water into the Pavna river. However, in the absence any cleaning, the cesspool has grown, incessantly drawing the domestic waste.

The residents, requesting anonymity, complained that despite their best efforts to make the corporator see reason, he has done nothing. ``In the last three years, we have also drawn the attention of the PCMC authorities to the problem several times, but there has no action from their end,'' says an agitated elderly resident.

Avinash Jawalkar, a college student, says that the foul smell pervades the area 24 hours day. ``People who come to the crematorium have to hold their noses against the stench. And the mosquito menace is giving the residents sleepless nights.''

When contacted, corporator Eknath Mote confirmed that the land has remained filthy for the ``past couple of years.'' He says he has brought this fact to the notice of the concerned PCMC authorities. ``Don't expect me to clean the place. It's not my job. If the authorities are lazy, I can't help it. It's for the municipal commissioner take action if his staff is not working,'' Mote argues.

Mote says he has no idea as to when the proposed school will come up. ``At least not in the near future.''

He, however, hastens to add that the place is cleaned on and off, but quickly agrees that ``it's only a half-hearted job.'' Mote says as a last resort he will organise a fast along with the residents, to force the authorities into cleaning the place. ``That's how things work at the PCMC. What can I do,'' he shrugs helplessly.

The residents' problems do not end there. Snaking along the reserved piece land is a road which leads to the crematorium. The road which falls in Ward No. 36 of corporator Vijay Lande is a nightmare for the users. ``It was dug up four times in last two years for various purposes including laying cables and drainage work. But it has not been re-laid so far, causing severe inconvenience to the residents,'' says a woman resident.

Compounding the problem is the fact that children use both sides of the narrow road for defecating. ``Yet, the PCMC takes no action against those responsible for dirtying the place. They should immediately fine the parents since thay stay in nearby localities and can be easily traced,'' says Vinod Panchal, a resident.

Corporator Vijay Lande argues that the road has not been re-laid as the PCMC has not been able to complete various developmental works on time. ``The drainage work has remained pending due to one hurdle or another from time to time. That's what administration keeps telling me. I am in constant touch with the road engineers, and by the end of this month they have assured the work will be complete.'' When contacted, PCMC deputy engineer Praveen Kaluskar told Pimpri-Chinchwad Newsline that all road works will be taken up in Kasarwadi only after the rain stops. ``It's a policy decision. No road work is undertaken during the rains,'' he said. However, he evaded a question as to how the roads have remained such poor condition for so long.