They risk their lives but no one cares

This happens more on the southwest bank than the eastern side. They not only put themselves in peril but also pose a problem to the flow of traffic on the narrow road along the bank,with vehicles indiscriminately parked on the road.

Hawkers crowding the place add to the chaos. “It is true that people illegally enter the dam waters. But with the number of employees we have,we cannot keep an eye on them,as our staff is mostly engaged in water regulation and supply. Like us,it is also the responsibility of the police to restrict people,” said senior officials of the irrigation department.

However,the city police don’t buy the argument. “How can the irrigation authorities just push the responsibility on us? The police cannot keep a watch 24×7. On the contrary,the irrigation department should first build a wall to stop people from going into the dam and appoint guards to dissuade people from entering the dam,” said Satish Patil,police inspector of Haveli police station.

The Hindu Janjagriti Samiti (HJS),which prevents people from spoiling the dam water on festivals like Dhulivandan and Rangpanchami,is of the opinion that the irrigation department and the Pune Municipal Corporation should together carry out a campaign to stop people from spoiling the water and playing with their own lives.

“It is the responsibility of the authorities concerned to stop people from getting into the dam,as we do not have the resources to keep doing so throughout the year. We have pointed it out to the authorities time and again. They have not done it so far. They should impose a fine on the revellers,” said Sunil Ghanwat,Pune district spokesperson for HJS.