No Water, Unsafe Roads: NIBM Annex Residents To Go On Hunger Strike From June 22Â Â
No Water, Unsafe Roads: NIBM Annex Residents To Go On Hunger Strike From June 22Â Â
Renuka Suryavanshi
Residents of NIBM Annex, Survey No. 25-26, have announced an indefinite hunger strike from June 22, 2025, protesting 15 years of civic apathy by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). The residents allege that despite repeated complaints and representations, the area continues to suffer from a severe water crisis, dangerous roads, and lack of basic public welfare facilities.
Led by Advocate Kishor Baligar and supported by professionals including ex-servicemen, engineers, and chartered accountants, the residents say they have exhausted all democratic channels—court cases, morchas, meetings with public representatives—without any concrete response from PMC or higher authorities.
The protest demands the immediate laying of an 8-inch water pipeline from the main line to residential water tanks of societies like Dorabjee Paradise, Urban Space Phase 1 and 2, VTP Celesta, and others. The residents also seek a refund of crores spent on private tanker water and demand that water charges in property tax be waived until PMC water is supplied.
Further concerns include illegal water connections, poor road infrastructure, stalled development of amenity spaces, and misuse of public funds due to lack of coordination between PMC and MSEDCL. The residents have raised objections to PMC’s alleged attempts to hand over amenity plots to private entities.
Despite PMC’s annual budget exceeding ₹12,600 crore, the residents claim their fundamental rights are being denied, resulting in financial and emotional distress. The protest letter has been sent to the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Ministers, Police Commissioner, District Collector, and MLA Chetan Tupe, but no official response has been received so far.
Residents hope the PMC will intervene before they are forced to resort to this extreme step.
