We Can’t Breathe: Sopanbaug, Udaybaug Residents From Pune Demand Action Against Air Pollution Caused By PMC’s Waste Plant In Hadapsar
We Can’t Breathe: Sopanbaug, Udaybaug Residents From Pune Demand Action Against Air Pollution Caused By PMC's Waste Plant In Hadapsar
Residents of over 35 housing societies from Sopanbaug, Udaybaug, BT Kawade Road, Hadapsar, Ghorpadi and nearby locality under the aegis of Residents Forum Udaybaug, Sopanbaug and Ghorpadi staged a peaceful protest on Sunday, 17 November 2024 at Ganga Melrose Housing Society, Sopanbaug, Ghorpadi Gaon, Pune to highlight their long pending and unresolved civic problem of toxic foul smell, air pollution and environmental issues persistently resulting in health hazards. The despondent residents comprising of Senior Citizens, Adults, Youngsters, Children Male as well as Female in big numbers from the families of people suffering with respiratory infections, asthma & lung problems, heart ailments, wheezing & coughing problems, irritation of eye, nose & throat, etc. had no other choice but to gather for a Peaceful Protest to assert themslves and speak about their apathy and demand resolution of the problems once and for all.
The protesters frustration could be gauged from the feelings in the form of messages displayed on the Placards they were carrying . We cant Breathe We Demand Clean Air, We cant breath Experience Hell with Udaybaug Smell, Toxic Smell is Killing Us, P.M.C. Public Menace Creators??, Remove Waste Processing Plant from Residential Area, Shame on P.M.C. Admin, Thank you P.M.C. for honouring us as Punes Worst Smelling Locality, How Chloroform Works Visit Udaybaug!!, Yamaraj also visits our locality by wearing mask, P.M.C. Admin Please be Fair We dont deserve this Toxic Air, “What Union Carbide did to Bhopal P.M.C. Commissioner, Please dont do this to us at all!!, P.M.C. Bury us, we are already dead, For Gods sake, Perform your duties P.M.C. and P.C.B., Wake up P.M.C. and P.C.B., Remove! Remove! Remove! Waste Processing Plant & Garbage Yard from Hadapsar Industrial Area and raising slogans expressing their pain and disappointment with the Local Government Administrations.
The Residents Forum of Udaybaug, Sopanbaug, Ghorpadi finally took upon them to lead the mission and work towards making the lives better for the residents by forming a Task Force to connect with the Decision Makers to take up the matters for expeditious resolution.
The Task Force Members led by Advocate Anirodh Mishra to the knowledge of all those present at the Protest that even after the Honorable Courts instructing the P.M.C. and P.C.B. Administrations no action was taken by them. Even the Government of Maharashtras instructions to the P.M.C. and P.C.B. to remove the PMCs Solid Waste Management Plant and the Composting Plant was not adhered to by these administrations.
“The Maharashtra Government in July 2012 had assured changes in Town Planning Laws to address health concerns posed by the burgeoning garbage and dumping grounds in cities of Maharashtra.
Bombay High Court had on 12.06.2018 taken umbrage for non compliance of its order of 12.07.2018 and not shifting the Garbage Depot. Based on the High Court Order, the Honble Principal Secretary, UDD Dr. Nitin Kareer had passed Order on 11.08.2018 and directed PCB to shift the Garbage Depot before 11.08.2019. It is a matter of grave concern and it is essential that immediate corrective action needs to be taken by PMC and PCB, as the development of properties in the area has happened with their approvals of plans etc. in defiance of the Court and Maharashtra Government Orders,” stated the residents.
