PMC’s neglect raises a stink as garbage piles up in Viman Nagar

By: Pune Pulse

October 12, 2023

Pune: Residents of Viman Nagar are plagued by the everyday waste & garbage accumulation & non cleaning/lifting of it from many areas.

Speaking to Pune Pulse, Ravi Iyer, a resident of Viman Nagar said, “Garbage keeps lying at the end of the road at the backside of Joggers Park and Swami Vivekanand Udyan. That area is stinking a lot. Earlier, waste wasn’t there. There are some pockets in Viman Nagar where garbage just keeps lying every day. The PMC must immediately clear it up whether it is wet waste or dry waste. Hence, these issues are cropping up. Timely actions are not being taken. Diseases, stink and more keep coming due to this. As of now, the rainfall has stopped. However, if it rains again, it will create a very unhygienic scenario & anyone who is not immune will definitely fall sick. We call Pune a Smart City, but, looking at such various issues, are we really smart?”

Rajeev Pathria, a resident of Viman Nagar said, “There are various places in Viman Nagar where garbage just keeps lying like Konark Campus on Konark Nagar Road etc. Hawkers dump the garbage on the road itself. There is no system for them to put the garbage in one place. There is a place called Khau Galli on Konark Nagar Road where, especially at night, several people come to eat on the weekends. Due to this, a lot of garbage used to be collected. These hawkers used to get penalized for it but ultimately they set up their businesses again. The Konark Campus area is just like an open dumping zone where everyone can dump garbage.”

Arjun Jagtap, President, Viman Nagar Residents Association said, “Garden waste & other types of waste is thrown away. However, there is no permanent crawling point for garbage. Some people just dump garbage during nighttime. But the PMC comes and cleans it a lot of times. People like illegal hawkers, illegal hotel people etc mainly dump waste. The main issue is the segregation of waste. Some time gets taken due to non-segregation of waste.”

Qaneez Sukhrani, a Pune Citizens’ Activist stated that “Viman Nagar under Prabhag 3 lies in a complete mess with garbage, household waste, dry cut branches,  plastic, debris, etc. dumped on roadsides & footpaths. Even if the compactor comes, the staff & labour will make more of a mess than before.”

Somnath Bankar, Assistant Municipal Commissioner, PMC Nagar Road – Vadgoan Sheri Ward Office said, “PMC every day picks up waste from the entire Viman Nagar area. However, we will go to the affected spot & inspect.”

Shreyas Vange