Pune:Â Neglect Turns Fursungi Road Into Death Trap During Monsoon, Citizens Call For Inclusion In PMCÂ Â Â
Pune:Â Neglect Turns Fursungi Road Into Death Trap During Monsoon, Citizens Call For Inclusion In PMCÂ Â Â
Pune | June 21, 2025
During the Palkhi season, many devotees settle temporarily in Fursungi village. A key road that connects Bharat petrol pump on the Palkhi route and Saswad Road (National Highway) to Fursungi becomes extremely hazardous during the monsoon, as both the road and the adjoining stream go underwater. After heavy rainfall, water accumulates to such an extent that commuters cannot distinguish whether it is a stream or a road, increasing the risk of fatal accidents due to drowning.
Deepali Sardeshmukh, a social activist from the area has been raising various civic issues and negligence by the Pune Municipal Corporation as well as the newly formed municipal council. Both the organisations are not paying any heed to citizens’ requests and leading to flooded roads.
Sardeshmukh further stated that the inclusion of Fursungi and Uruli Devachi has been totally wrong and politically motivated. This decision of turning Fursungi and Uruli Devachi into Municipal Council has largely impacted the residents’ well-being. The existing facilities are deteriorating in Fursungi and Uruli Devachi as none of the authorities are taking up responsibility to clean nalas, construct road, maintain cleanliness, etc.
The Pune District Disaster Management Department had earlier raised this concern with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), which subsequently conducted drain-cleaning operations. However, when citizens filed further complaints, the authorities claimed that the area falls outside the PMC’s jurisdiction.
Repeated complaints by locals have yielded no lasting solutions. Each time, the Nagar Parishad (Municipal Council) and the PMC shift responsibility, leaving critical safety issues unresolved.
The Bombay High Court had previously ruled that the state government’s notification regarding the independent municipal councils of Fursungi and Uruli Devachi was illegal. The court directed that both villages should be integrated into the Pune Municipal Corporation. However, the state government deviated from this directive and created separate councils for only these two out of 34 villages, causing administrative ambiguity and depriving residents of essential civic services.
Despite paying taxes, residents continue to suffer. The Nagar Parishad lacks the capacity to address major civic concerns, while the PMC refuses to act, citing jurisdictional limitations. This has led to growing resentment, with citizens accusing the state and local authorities of discrimination and deliberate neglect.
In case of a tragic incident or loss of life in this area, residents are questioning who will be held accountable. Notably, even after the High Court’s ruling, a second illegal notification was issued under the influence of some political leaders. The then Chief Minister, now Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, allegedly acted against the court’s orders, leaving Fursungi and Uruli Devachi isolated and deprived of basic amenities.
At present, there are no protective barriers in the affected zone—only lightweight plastic barricades that are ineffective against strong winds. This makes it impossible for people to identify where the road ends and the stream begins, raising fears of someone being swept away in the water.
Citizens are now demanding urgent inclusion of both villages into the Pune Municipal Corporation and immediate provision of fundamental civic facilities to prevent further endangerment of lives.
