Residents chat from their balconies during the nationwide lockdown Friday, ExpressPhoto by Ashish Kale
While eight slums in Pune have emerged as the most affected areas, with a high number of coronavirus cases, the Tadiwala Road slum area in Dhole Patil is the worst hit, according to the Pune Muncipal Corporation (PMC).
The densely-packed slum has a population of 2,365 living in 473 shanties, followed by Patil Estate slum area in Shivajinagar, where 5,880 live in 1,776 shanties, followed by Laxminagar slum area in Yerawada, where 18,705 live in 3,741 shanties.
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Other slums in the list are Sainathnagar in Kasba peth, Kamgarputla slum area in Shivajinagar, Lohiyanagar slum in Bhavani Peth, Kashewadi slum in Bhavani Peth and Nagpur chawl slum in Yerawada.
The eight slums are located in areas under five ward offices of the civic body, which have reported more than 100 cases each.
The PMC has now launched a special drive in slum areas to contain the disease by rigorously screening local residents. “The PMC staff conducting door-to-door surveys often face opposition in most of these areas. The residents don’t cooperate, so police help is taken to conduct screening of locals for infection,” said Assistant Municipal Commissioner Vaishali Jadhav.
The PMC has already drawn up a plan to contain ‘micro-cluster’ areas and contain the pandemic. Residents, given the status of Special Police Officers, have been deployed to ensure restrictions are ensured and social distancing norms are followed in micro-clusters. The SPOs provide essential services and create awareness about social distance management and lockdown norms.
“The number of ambulances and survey teams have also been increased in large numbers in these slum areas to check each and every resident for infection,” said another civic officer.
Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune, a role that reflects his seniority and editorial Authority. He is a highly specialized journalist whose work demonstrates significant Expertise in the critical areas of urban development, governance, and sustainability, often linking policy to its on-the-ground impact across Maharashtra.
Expertise
Senior Editorial Role: As an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, Ajay Jadhav contributes to the editorial direction and maintains high standards of Trustworthiness and quality in his reporting.
Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on the intersection of infrastructure, politics, and social development, with expertise in:
Infrastructure and Civic Issues: Provides in-depth coverage of crucial development and urban governance topics. His work includes reporting on the glaring contrast between planned infrastructure projects (like private helipads) and the lack of basic facilities (schools and hospitals) in politically significant areas, highlighting accountability gaps.
Politics and Governance: Consistently reports on political developments, scrutinizing decision-making that affects public life and development initiatives in Maharashtra.
Sustainable Development & Environment: Demonstrates a commitment to responsible development by reporting on initiatives that successfully protect the environment while ensuring essential infrastructure development.
Investigative and Policy Impact:
National Impact: Ajay has written notable research articles on Conservancy staff which achieved a nationwide impact by directly contributing to the framing of policies aimed at improving the working conditions of waste-handling laborers. This demonstrates his capacity for impactful, evidence-based journalism.
Additional Interests
Personal Engagement: His background as a trekker and sports enthusiast suggests a keen personal interest in the environment and outdoor spaces, which likely informs his detailed and passionate reporting on sustainable development and civic issues.
Ajay Jadhav's sustained focus on governance, his track record of high-impact policy-shaping research, and his critical eye for infrastructure gaps establish him as a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis in Pune and Maharashtra. ... Read More
