Former Corporator Mahesh Gaikwad Enters Kalyan East Drain To Clear Monsoon Blockage

During the season's first spell of heavy rain, former corporator Mahesh Gaikwad personally entered a clogged drain in Kalyan East to clear accumulated silt and garbage after widespread waterlogging exposed lapses in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation's (KDMC) pre-monsoon desilting work.

Gaikwad, who serves as the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) Kalyan East contact chief, was accompanied by his supporters. The action came after the municipal administration's claims of completing pre-monsoon desilting were challenged by flooded roads, choked drains, and water entering low-lying residential areas.

The heavy downpour disrupted traffic and caused rainwater to flood homes in low-lying pockets of the city. Local residents reported that civic workers were absent at several of the affected locations.

In response to complaints from residents, Gaikwad and his party workers reached one of the waterlogged areas. Gaikwad manually participated in clearing the blocked drain. Once the accumulated sludge and debris were removed, the trapped rainwater gradually receded.

Gaikwad stated that the immediate priority was to ensure citizens did not suffer due to blocked stormwater drains, noting that his team stepped in to restore the flow of rainwater.

The incident has sparked criticism from local residents, who questioned why an elected representative had to perform tasks that fall under the responsibility of the KDMC. Residents pointed out that the civic body, where the ruling alliance includes the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and the BJP, allocates substantial funds annually for pre-monsoon desilting and drain maintenance.

Local residents alleged that despite the expenditure of crores of rupees, the drainage infrastructure failed during the first major rain. They have demanded greater transparency in the execution of desilting contracts and called for an independent review of the pre-monsoon works carried out this year.