Pune : Kondhwa residents stage peaceful protest against PMC’s inaction over foul smell emitting from unused garbage trucks
By: Pune Pulse
August 26, 2023
Pune: Residents of several societies in Kondhwa like R Euphoria, HM Royal etc. held a peaceful protest called ‘Health Satyagraha’ outside Mansukhbhai Kothari School on August 25 because of foul odour emanating from the garbage trucks of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) parked in the amenity spaces.
These trucks also pose a threat to school students as the space is very narrow and could lead to untoward accidents. Also, the trucks are not cleaned which may further give rise to diseases.
Speaking to Pune Pulse, Asif Shaikh, a resident & committee member of R Euphoria, Kondhwa said, “Several huge vehicles remain parked in the amenity space in front of Masukhbhai Kothari school in which a lot of water & garbage stays accumulated. Nobody bothers to clean or even take note of it. So, a lot of smell & stink keeps coming which gives rise to various diseases which could affect people, especially kids & senior citizens.”
Dilawar Auti, a resident of HM Royal, Kondhwa said, “My kids study in Kothari school. The space between Kothari School & the amenity space is very narrow. Huge vehicles of garbage keep coming there & parking in the amenity space, causing hazards for kids to walk from there. Hence, something must be done so that vehicles won’t come here at least when kids are entering and exiting the school.”
As per information, the heath satyagraha took place from 2 pm onwards on August 25 in which more than 100 people from nearby societies had participated including kids, senior citizens etc.
Alamgir Jamadar, Head, Kondhwa Budruk Association said, “Amenity space has become a cruelty space. Residents living in nearby societies are suffering from bad smell and odour. The public in the residential area here has been suffering for a long time. Due to the huge garbage vehicles being parked in the amenity space, water saturated in the containers of the vehicles spreads diseases. This is an injustice to the citizens as the amenity space is the citizen’s rights but is instead used as a space to spread diseases. Apart from diseases, a risk factor & life-threatening situation could also happen for students of nearby Mansukhbhai Kothari school where the vehicles can cause accidents as they keep coming and going. Hence, PMC must plan and move these vehicles away from populated areas & shift them to secluded places.”
Chhabil Patel, Secretary, NCP Pune said, “Several garbage vehicles are parked in the amenity space survey no 18/19. The accumulated garbage, contaminated water etc. is causing a lot of nuisance & diseases for the citizens living in nearby residential societies such as R Euphoria, HM Royal etc. To oppose this hazardous situation, we conducted a small protest by putting on face masks & distributing rose flowers to kids called Health Satyagraha. If the PMC doesn’t pay attention to this soon, we will conduct a Rasta Roko protest with thousands of people on the streets.”
