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In a recent Mohalla Committee meeting, residents of Aundh, Baner, Balewadi, and Pashan in Pune demanded that their civic body address various issues in their areas urgently. One of the issues they raised is the water scarcity in the area, and they requested that the PMC not permit the construction of new buildings. Additionally, members of the Baner-Balewadi-Pashan Residents Association (BBPRA) raised concerns about the need to remove unnecessary overhead cables, clean up nullahs and stormwater drains before the monsoons, and other matters.
During the meeting, Sarang Wable, a Baner resident, stated that the Mohalla Committee had reached a unanimous agreement that the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) should refrain from granting permission for new constructions in the locality. The committee wishes to delay the permissions until the water issue in Baner, Balewadi, Aundh, and Pashan is resolved. Although they understand that the ward officer does not have the direct authority to make this decision, they raised the issue to urge the officer to send a letter to the main office on their behalf.
They also urged the civic body to conduct a survey of the nullahs and stormwater drains in the vicinity. If found to be clogged, the have demanded that the authorities clean them to prevent water-logging during the rainy season. Further, they have said that in the event of any encroachment being identified, the ward office should notify the encroachment department and file a written complaint to have it removed before the arrival of the monsoon.
Residents also raised their concerns over the garbage sorting station near Sai Chowk and 43 Private Drive society, there. Apparently, all the waste from this station is sorted on the pavement, rendering it unusable for pedestrians. Residents want this activity to be halted and the sorting station to be relocated. The residents have resolved that if the PMC fails to relocate the sorting station within the next 15 days, all the societies in the area will join forces and stage a protest march.
During the meeting, the topic of overhead cables was also brought up. Sandip Khalate, who is the assistant municipal commissioner and Aundh Ward officer, mentioned that they will inform the PMC headquarters about the citizens’ request to prevent the construction of new buildings. They are currently working on removing unnecessary overhead cables. However, relocating the garbage sorting station is a challenge as people will object no matter where it is moved. Nevertheless, they will ensure that the garbage is not overflowing onto the footpath to make it easier for pedestrians to walk.
Khalate stated that 90% of the garbage has been cleared, and he expressed his commitment to maintaining cleanliness. Additionally, he mentioned that they will begin cleaning storm water drains and other related areas to prepare for the monsoon season, starting from April 1.
According to a recent decision by the Bombay high court, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is prohibited from allowing any new construction projects or issuing occupancy certificates for completed projects in Baner and Balewadi areas of Pune until the water problems in those areas are resolved. The judges expressed concern that despite being under the corporation for over a decade, the PMC has not been able to provide adequate water supply to these areas, and allowing more people to move in will only worsen the situation.
The decision was made in response to a public interest litigation filed by a businessman named Amol Balwadkar, who argued that while the city has seen rapid growth in population and development, basic necessities like water have not been addressed adequately. The petition also highlighted that the residents of the buildings in Baner and Balewadi areas have not been provided with a reliable water supply. The petition mentioned that there is no main supply line for water and despite several complaints and protests, the PMC has not taken any action. Additionally, the petition stated that the housing societies are forced to spend a significant amount of money, almost half of their monthly maintenance fees, just to obtain water.
However, the senior advocate representing the PMC, Prasad Dani, argued that there was no scarcity of water in these areas. He claimed that the problem was only related to maintaining the proper pressure to supply water, and that the areas were receiving 213 litres of water per person per day, which is above the maximum requirement of 180 litres per person per day. Nevertheless, the judges were not convinced by these claims and sought feedback from the residents of the locality. If there is further disagreement regarding the claims made by the PMC, the court intends to appoint a commissioner to investigate the matter and obtain the facts.
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