Citizen Victory: PCMC Scraps Proposed Garbage Depot in Punawale
Citizen Victory: PCMC Scraps Proposed Garbage Depot in Punawale
Citizens celebrate victory as civic body officially removes depot from development plan
After nearly two decades of uncertainty and opposition, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has officially scrapped its plan to set up a garbage depot in Punawale. The civic body’s recently published development plan for Pimpri-Chinchwad confirms the removal of the depot from its proposals, according to civic officials.
Back in 2008, the PCMC had earmarked 22 hectares of land at survey number 24 in Punawale for the project. In exchange for this forest department land, the civic body paid ₹3.5 crore and committed to providing alternate land. However, in the 15 years that followed, the project saw no progress, while the area rapidly urbanised with residential complexes, schools, and colleges coming up around the site.
In 2023, the civic body revived its plan for a multi-purpose complex that included a garbage depot. This move sparked strong opposition from local residents, who argued that Punawale’s proximity to the Hinjawadi IT Park had led to a population boom, transforming the region into a residential hub for IT professionals. From a population of around 10,000 in 2008, the area now houses nearly 1 lakh people.
Amid mounting pressure, former BJP MLA Ashwini Jagtap raised the issue in the Maharashtra Assembly. In December 2023, the state government orally announced the cancellation of the proposed depot. However, citizens remained anxious, awaiting formal confirmation from PCMC.
Now that the official decision has been made, residents are calling it a people’s victory. “We’ve been fighting this for 17 years, meeting leaders like Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis, and even protesting on the streets,” said one local resident. “This is a triumph of citizens’ unity and persistence.”
The announcement brings a sense of relief and closure to the community, ending a long-standing conflict between urban development and civic infrastructure planning.
