NAGPUR: The apathy of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) engineers, or their nexus with contractors of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), has turned trenches into death traps on main roads as well as in lanes of residential areas. The engineers almost never impose fines on contractors for trenches, though the cash-strapped NMC is losing money on road repairs.TOI had, on January 22, reported that workers of a MSEDCL contractor damaged NMC’s drinking water pipeline on newly constructed cement concrete road at Sahakar Nagar. Gallons of drinking water went waste, and paver blocks on the roadside were also damaged, along with disruption in water supply.Some 28 days later, the engineers of NMC water works department and Laxmi Nagar Zone are yet to register FIR against contractor, levy a penalty, recover the loss, or even get the road restored.Engineers of NMC water works department told TOI a proposal to recover penalty has been prepared. “Laxmi Nagar Zone should ensure restoration of road,” they said.NMC Laxmi Nagar Zone engineers only said they will ensure restoration is done by the MSEDCL contractor.RTI activist TH Naidu has alleged NMC engineers do not take action as there is a nexus between them and MSEDCL contractors. “There has been no action by NMC against contractor for 28 days in the latest case, which proves the nexus. NMC engineers are shielding the contractor despite inconvenience to people and loss to the civic body,” he said.In residential areas of Swavalambi Nagar and Trimurti Nagar, MSEDCL contractors trenched roads for laying power cable over six months ago. The trenches are yet to be restored. Cables are still lying on surface layer, on sides of road, in front of gates of houses etc.President of The Process Server Co-operative Housing Society, Swavalambi Nagar, Sanjay Nakhate said people are fed up with regular digging in residential areas. “No one from NMC visits and monitors the trenches. Over six months ago, trenches were done for power cable. Then for sewage line. For last couple of months, the sewage and storm water lines are still being laid. The road was asphalted a year ago. Now, NMC is widening the same road. It is a big loss of public money and inconvenience to citizens,” he said.Trenches made along London Street two years ago are yet to be restored properly. In Sahakar Nagar and Sonegaon, trenches were made a month ago and are lying abandoned.At Sahakar Nagar, trench was laid on footpath by removing paver blocks on newly constructed cement road. The paver blocks were kept in front of shops. The trenches and stock of paver blocks are still lying like that for last one month.Naidu said NMC engineers will asphalt the roads where trenches are made by MSEDCL contractors after some months, causing more financial loss. “MSEDCL contractors even dig in some places without permission. None of the NMC engineers come and check the works,” he said.NMC has time and again directed its engineers and MSEDCL officials to ensure restoration of trenches within one week of laying power cables. But no one is complying with the orders.NMC also takes only nominal charges for permitting trenches, and does not take security deposit from MSEDCL contractors. The NMC recovers high charges along with security deposit from individuals and telecommunication companies that want to dig roads.MSEDCL spokesperson said restoration will definitely be done by the contractors. “Works are yet to be completed in some areas so restoration works are yet to be started.”