With the monsoon just days away, the Pune Cantonment Board’s plans to ensure a hassle-free rainy season for citizens have hit a snarl.

According to PCB chief executive officer D K Malik, the board is unable to finish the planned refurbishment of sewage in several civil areas under its jurisdiction, as the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is dithering on its commitment to set aside its share of Rs 16 crore for the project. The two bodies had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in March 2007.

“The PMC informed us it has not earmarked the funds. We, on our part, had allotted around Rs 5 crore. They had neither backtracked nor had given us the go-ahead to complete their share of the work,” said Malik.

It may be recalled that as per the MoU, the PCB and the civic body had decided to relay pipelines in various strategic locations, thus giving the existing underground sewage system a much-needed overhaul. The MoU encompassed the location of the main sewage line and works on the Manik nalla, which falls under the jurisdiction of both bodies. It also involved jointly setting up a sewage treatment plant at Mangalwar Peth, into which the PCB can discharge its entire sewage, by sharing the construction cost.

“The PCB is not taking the imminent monsoon lightly. We have identified and issued notices to the owners of 53 buildings that are in urgent need of repair. But the decaying sewage system remains a major cause of worry,” Malik said.

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