Cidco yet to start pre-monsoon work at Kharghar

For the past four years, Cidco has been giving the work to PAP and villagers. According to officials, this leads to a delay in starting work

KHARGHAR: While the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) and Panvel Municipal Council (PMC) have already started the pre-monsoon work in their jurisdiction, the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) is yet to begin the work.

Kharghar is the only node in the city which comes under Cidco.

Residents fear they have to face the same problems this monsoon too with roads riddled with potholes and overflowing nullahs.

“I have been living in Kharghar for the past four years and every year, the premonsoon work is delayed. Unlike the NMMC and PMC areas, the administration do not follow any specific deadline for this which is why we have to face problems,” said Harpreet Singh, 34, resident of Sector 12 in Kharghar.

Residents said that although minor work can be taken care of even during the season, major work such as road repair work needs to be undertaken at least a month before to ensure smoother travel during rains.

“The delay in monsoon work is worrying and people living in far off sectors have to face more issues since anyway there is a persistent auto problem in Kharghar and driving your own vehicle in such bad roads during monsoon is just not feasible,” said Aditi Ghorpade, 29, resident of sector 35 in Kharghar.

Residents complained that the pre-monsoon work was not up to the mark last year.

“There is a serious health issue of mosquito menace in Kharghar during monsoon as extensive drives of indoor-breeding checks or IRS spray are not done. Even fogging and fumigation is not done regularly,” said Sumeet Roy, 41, resident of sector 4, Kharghar.

Officials said they have not yet started the tendering process.

For the past four years, Cidco has been handing over the pre-monsoon work to the project-affected people (PAP) and villagers. According to officials, this leads to a delay in starting work.

“The process of allocating the work to the PAP and villagers takes time. We will begin the area-wise work and will complete major works by mid-June and continue with the rest throughout monsoon,” said Pradeep Dahake, superintendent engineer, Cidco, Kharghar.

Cidco will carry out road-repair work, tree pruning, nullah de-silting and other maintenance works.

PHOTOS: BACHCHAN KUMAR A nullah at Kharghar is choked with garbage and weeds.

Workers clean Wadale lake in Panvel on Friday.