With snakes and rats in office, PMC employees run for cover

The civic administration is fed up with the menace caused by rodents and they need to take some immediate steps to resolve the issue before it turns serious.

3 min readPuneUpdated: Apr 2, 2022 01:01 AM IST

Rat traps have been placed at various spots in the office.

THE EMPLOYEES working with Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), one of the oldest and richest civic bodies in the state, are these days terrorised by mice and snakes slithering under the tables and nibbling their way through the cupboards.

The civic administration is fed up with the menace caused by rodents and they need to take some immediate steps to resolve the issue before it turns serious.

The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana cell of PMC in Savarkar Bhavan recently witnessed a snake in the office sending jitters among the civic employees who immediately took up the issue with senior officials. The cell on the ground floor of the building near Balgandharva Rang Mandir is on the banks of Mutha river.

“The building is close to the river. So the snake managed to sneak in from the surrounding area. We tried to rescue the snake but it has hidden itself somewhere in the office premises. Thus, directions have been given to immediately shift the staff to the top floor of the same building,” said Executive Engineer Yuvraj Deshmukh. The civic staff, mainly women employees in PMAY, refused to sit in the office and had sought immediate shifting from the existing premises, he said.

In another incident, at the Municipal secretary office on the first floor of the newly constructed extension of the civic main building, the rats have become a major concern. “We are facing problems with rats in offices and fear that they destroy office documents and computers. The civic health department has been informed about it,” said acting Municipal Secretary Shivaji Daundkar.

He said rat traps have been placed in various spots in the office premises. “Nearly six rats have been trapped in the rat trap so far. There are many more in the office,” Daundkar said. The staff of the municipal secretary department also complained that the centralised AC in the office has been switched off due to fear of short circuits as the rats might have damaged cables but the civic electrical department denied doing so due to rats. “I am not aware of the rat problem in the municipal secretary’s office. The centralised air condition in the office has been switched off as there is very less staff working in the building,” said Chief Engineer Srinivas Kandul.

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, Pune. With over 22 years of experience in the industry, he is a highly specialized journalist whose work focuses on the intersection of urban infrastructure, governance, and sustainability. Professional Background Role: As Assistant Editor, he plays a key role in the editorial direction of the Pune bureau, specializing in urban policy and its direct impact on citizens. Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a PG Diploma in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He also studied at the prestigious Fergusson College. Impactful Reporting: He is credited with research-based articles on conservancy staff (waste workers) that influenced national policy for better working conditions. He is also known for exposing the contrast between high-end infrastructure (like helipads for leaders) and the lack of basic amenities like schools in their home districts. Personal Interests: An avid trekker and sports enthusiast, his personal interest in the outdoors often informs his reporting on environmental protection and sustainable development. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) His reporting in late 2025 has been dominated by the upcoming January 2026 Civic Polls in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the city's infrastructure boom: 1. Political Analysis (Civic Elections 2026) "Not friendly but a bitter fight lies ahead between BJP and NCP for PMC, PCMC" (Dec 22, 2025): A detailed look at the intense rivalry between the Mahayuti partners as they prepare for the January 15 municipal elections. "Pune civic polls: Big blow to NCP, NCP(SP) as leaders switch to BJP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on high-profile poaching and party-hopping ahead of the elections. "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): Analyzing the results of the local self-government body elections as a precursor to the main civic polls. 2. Infrastructure & Urban Development "Looking Ahead at 2026: Pune to see inauguration of much-awaited Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar metro route" (Dec 22, 2025): An "outlook" piece on the critical Metro Line 3 project expected to finish by March 2026. "Building Pune: PMC to construct double-decker bridge over Mula-Mutha River" (Dec 18, 2025): Detailing a major project aimed at easing traffic between Hadapsar and Kharadi. "Condition of highway from Pune to Kolhapur to improve in a year: Gadkari" (Dec 4, 2025): Reporting on the Union Minister’s assurances regarding one of the state's most critical transport corridors. 3. Civic Governance & Environment "Install sensors, LED indicators at construction sites within 15 days: PMC to builders" (Dec 16, 2025): A follow-up to the "Breathless Pune" series, reporting on new mandates for builders to monitor air quality in real-time. "Errors in electoral rolls: PMC corrects data of 92,466 voters" (Dec 16, 2025): Tracking the administrative efforts to clean up the voter lists before the 2026 elections. Signature Style Ajay Jadhav is known for accountability journalism. His work often bridges the gap between high-level policy and the "ground zero" reality of Pune's residents. He is particularly focused on Sustainable Development, ensuring that as Pune grows into a "Bharat Mandapam" style destination (referring to his report on the Lohegaon project), its environmental and social safeguards remain intact. X (Twitter): @ajay_khape ... Read More

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