Pune News: PCMC Drops Punawale Garbage Depot Plan After 17-Year Battle, Citing Public Opposition and Area Growth
Pune News: PCMC Drops Punawale Garbage Depot Plan After 17-Year Battle, Citing Public Opposition and Area Growth
After nearly two decades of contention, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has officially cancelled its plan to set up a garbage depot in Punawale. The decision was confirmed with the recent publication of the city’s new development plan, which omits the depot from the proposals.
Originally, in 2008, PCMC earmarked 22 hectares of land at Survey No. 24 in Punawale for the garbage depot. The civic body had paid ₹3.5 crore to the forest department in exchange for the land and had committed to providing alternate land. However, no concrete steps were taken to acquire the site, and over the years, the area witnessed rapid urbanisation, including the development of housing societies, schools, and colleges.
In 2023, PCMC revived plans to set up a combined garbage depot, administrative complex, and convention centre at the same location, sparking widespread protests from local residents. Citizens opposed the move, highlighting that Punawale’s proximity to the Hinjawadi IT Park has led to a population surge — from about 10,000 in 2008 to nearly one lakh today — with many IT professionals choosing to settle in the area.
Former BJP MLA Ashwini Jagtap raised the issue in the state assembly, prompting the government to announce in December 2023 that the depot plan would be scrapped. However, residents continued to press for an official confirmation, which has now been delivered through the updated development plan.
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