Pune residents demand action as construction debris and dust worsen city commute, air pollution
With the rise in construction activities in Pune, daily commute has become an issue for residents across Kalyani Nagar, Punawale and other areas, where they have to navigate concrete spills and construction debris scattered on the roads. The emission of dust from uncovered dumpers carrying construction material has aggravated the air pollution. Despite repeated complaints from residents, ward officials are yet to address the spillover.
'The D-Mart Lane in Kalyani Nagar is filled with debris due to the careless handling of construction materials. The issue has been persisting since the last week of May, and the road has become unsafe for driving as the debris makes the surface uneven and slippery during rain,' said Monica S, a resident of Kalyani Nagar.
Rajeev Apte, who lives in Kumar Sophronia apartment, said, 'The dumpers carrying construction material don't cover their trolley, so the dust emitted has been worsening the air quality. It's adding to the already high air pollution, creating health hazards for residents.'
The imbalance caused by uneven surfaces has even caused minor accidents. Rohan Jadhav, a resident of Punawale, says, 'The trucks carrying Ready Mix Concrete (RMC) often spill the concrete, creating sturdy patches. While navigating these patches, vehicles collide on narrow roads, and there have been minor accidents in the past. They wouldn't be spilling it intentionally, but there should be some accountability while carrying RMC.'
The residents demanded strict implementation of preventive measures such as proper covering of dumpers and immediate cleaning up of spills. 'Development is necessary, but such construction activities causing inconvenience to others should be checked, and repeat offenders must be penalised,' said Munir Vastani, a resident of Kalyani Nagar.
However, repeated complaints to PMC have failed to address this issue. 'We have attached photos and videos of the spillover and mailed to the ward office, also complained on the PMC Care App since last week, but no one has responded. We demand that the officials respond and act swiftly to clear the debris immediately,' added Monica.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Manohar Mali, junior engineer at the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), said, 'We have acknowledged the issue and will send a team to clear the spillover. A check will be kept on such activities in the future, and if the issue repeats, action will be taken against the concerned contractor.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Indian Express
Sindoor, Vyom, Sofiya – newly-hatched Great Indian Bustard chicks in Jaisalmer get names that ring a bell
Operation Sindoor has become a symbol of national pride, and its legacy now lives on in an unexpected way — through the naming of newly-hatched Great Indian Bustard (GIB) chicks. To honour the heroes involved in the operation, the Rajasthan Forest Department has named four chicks born in May 2025 after Operation Sindoor and the individuals associated with it. The GIB, a critically endangered species found primarily in Western Rajasthan, is the focus of conservation efforts by the Ministry of Environment. Brijmohan Gupta, Divisional Forest Officer at Desert National Park, told The Indian Express, 'This is our way of remembering those who stood against the enemies. In May 2025, eight chicks were born. We named four of them: 'Sindoor' after Operation Sindoor, 'Vyom' after Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, 'Mishri' in honour of an undercover intelligence officer, and 'Sophia' after Colonel Sofia Qureshi. Our goal is not just to increase the bird population but also to connect wildlife conservation with national interest.' Operation Sindoor was launched early May 7 by the Indian military to destroy nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Subsequently, India responded strongly to Pakistan's attempts to target its military and civilian areas with drones, missiles and other weapons. 'It's not just about saving a bird, it's about preserving the values that define us as a nation,' Gupta added. At present, there are 65 GIBs at the Centre for Great Indian Bustard Conservation in Jaisalmer. In 2025 alone, 21 chicks were born through captive breeding programmes. The National Conservation Breeding Programme continues to work toward saving the species, whose global population is estimated to be fewer than 150, most of them in Rajasthan. Once found across India's grasslands, the GIB has been pushed to the brink of extinction due to habitat loss, poaching, and infrastructural threats like power lines. To counter this crisis, Project GIB was launched in 2018 as a joint initiative of the Ministry of Environment, the Wildlife Institute of India, and the Rajasthan Forest Department. The breeding centres at Sudasari and Sam are equipped with AI-enabled surveillance, temperature-controlled incubators, and sensor-based monitoring systems. This advanced infrastructure ensures real-time tracking of egg conditions and chick health. The newly-born chicks are trained in semi-natural enclosures to help them adapt to wild conditions. The eventual goal is their reintroduction into open desert landscapes, where their survival and breeding in the wild will mark a turning point in India's conservation journey. Gupta said the department's next focus is to enhance survival rates and reduce infant mortality. AI monitoring has already improved outcomes, allowing for early intervention and round-the-clock care. The team also involves local communities to foster a sense of shared responsibility for protecting this critically endangered species.
Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Indian Express
As Pune gears up for Pride March tomorrow, a transgender couple faces bureaucratic hurdles as they wait to tie the knot
Nearly two years ago, the Supreme Court, in a landmark judgment, affirmed the rights of transgender persons in heterosexual relationships to marry under existing laws. Priti, 29, a transgender from Jamshedpur who aspires to be a beautician and is waiting to tie the knot with Pune-based Trinay, 34, a transman legally recognised as male on his Aadhaar card, however faces several challenges to exercising this right. 'I have my TG Identity card and like any other woman, I want to be a wife, parent, and live with my husband. However, it has been more than one and a half years since the judgment but our transgender community still awaits this right,' Priti said. She hopes to raise this issue at the 13th Annual Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, and Queer Pride March to be held in Pune on Sunday. Priti, who has passed Class 12 and worked in the hotel management sector, is yet to be accepted by her family. 'I am a transgender person, not a sex worker. I want to become a beautician and earn my living. Mujhe jeena hai (I want to live),' Priti said. She met Trinay on an online portal, and before long, they forged a deep connection as they opened up about their personal struggles, finding strength and understanding in each other's stories. Trinay, assigned female at birth, but who always felt like a male deep inside, had experienced several challenges due to his situation. 'I wanted to pee like a boy, and wear tight T-shirts. Menstruation would give me panic attacks,' recalled Trinay, who works at a tech firm in the city. Deciding that he could not live this dual life anymore, he eventually transitioned to a male after undergoing gender affirming surgery. Speaking to The Indian Express, Trinay said, 'Priti and I have been doing the rounds of the marriage registrar's office only to return disappointed. Instead of guiding us on the online application process and other details, we were asked to obtain a court order.' The duo met Bindumadhav Khire, an LGBTIQ activist and director of Bindu Queer Rights Foundation, Pune, and spoke about their difficulty in registering their marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954. 'Both of them have the requisite IDs. The transman has a collector-issued ID with gender stated as 'male' and the other transgender person has a collector-issued ID with the gender stated as 'transgender' as per provisions of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and the corresponding Rules (2020). I too approached the Marriage Registrar, but was told that they have not received any notification with regard to the legality of registering the marriage of transgender people. So they have to obtain an order from the high court or a notification from the government in this regard,' Khire told The Indian Express. The activist later filed a grievance in May on the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System to the Ministry of Home Affairs/Legislative Matters seeking a notification by the central government, to all states and Union territories, on the legality of registering the marriage of a transgender person in a heterosexual relationship. Khire, who received a response on June 6, said that suggestions made in the grievance have been noted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. 'We now hope that action will be taken in this case,' Khire said. When contacted, senior lawyer Anand Grover said that as per the top court's ruling, there was no legal prohibition on transgender individuals from getting married. Meanwhile, at the Marriage Registrar's office, authorities said that the process is now online and they have not received any application from transgender persons so far. While experts said it was likely that some registration offices may require guidance from higher authorities, if they have not previously handled such registrations, Khire said that it was important that LGBTIQ rights granted by the Supreme Court do not remain only on paper. 'This LGBTIQ Pride Month, it is important that LGBTIQ rights granted by the Supreme Court are implemented in letter and spirit. Transgenders who were granted legal recognition in the 2014 judgment (National Legal Services Authority v/s Union of India) still await their right to marry the person of their choice,' Khire added. As per the Supreme Court judgment dated October 17, 2023, in the case involving one Supriyo Chakraborty, the apex court stated, '…..Consequently, we agree with the conclusion…that transgender persons in heterosexual relations have the right to marry under existing laws, including in personal laws regulating marriage. The court's affirmation of the HC judgment in Arun Kumar v Inspector General of Registration…is based upon a correct analysis.' In Arun Kumar's case, the Madras High Court had said in 2019, 'A marriage solemnized between a male and a transwoman, both professing Hindu religion, is a valid marriage in terms of Section 5 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 and the Registrar of Marriages is bound to register the same. By holding so, this Court is not breaking any new ground. It is merely stating the obvious. Sometimes, to see the obvious, one needs not only physical vision in the eye but also love in the heart.' Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition. ... Read More
Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Indian Express
CLAT 2025 Topper: Meet Saksham Gautam; a humanities student with a love for Math
At a time when the counselling process of the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) UG is underway, with the second merit list out and the third expected by June 20, The Indian Express caught up with the CLAT 2025 exam topper, Saksham Gautam. A humanities student from Delhi Public School, Faridabad, Gautam also aced his boards with a stunning 98.6 per cent. Speaking to this publication, Gautam shared his preparation strategy, mindset, and advice for future aspirants. Inspiration to choose law For Gautam, the decision to pursue law was rooted in both intellectual curiosity and a deeper civic aspiration. 'I began looking beyond Engineering and Medical as early as Class 7,' Gautam said, noting that despite coming from a family of engineers, STEM never quite clicked for him. 'Social Sciences, especially English and History, fascinated me. By Class 9 and 10, law emerged as a compelling avenue,' he added. He also emphasised his interest in public engagement. 'I don't want a corporate job. Many of our national leaders and freedom fighters were lawyers. Even in UPSC, law graduates have a good selection ratio,' he explained, hinting that public service remains a long-term option. Balancing CLAT with Class 12 boards 'It was challenging to balance CLAT with Class 12 boards,' Gautam admitted candidly. While attending regular school, he simultaneously prepared for CLAT with Legal Edge by Toprankers in Delhi. 'Prioritisation was key. If CLAT demanded more time, school took a backseat and vice versa,' he said. He began serious preparation in Class 11 by keeping 2-3 hours daily for CLAT. 'In 12th, I didn't track hours. I followed a task-based schedule. My goal was to complete all tasks by night,' he added. Challenging sections Reading comprehension, Gautam said, was 'one of the most demanding aspects of CLAT' since the exam is heavily passage-based. 'I wasn't an avid reader, so developing reading habits – especially newspapers and long-form articles – was hard at first,' he said. Logical Reasoning also posed challenges. 'Critical reasoning is dominant in CLAT. Being thorough with assumptions, arguments, and conclusions is essential,' he said, recommending consistent practice and attention to previous year questions. Speaking on Legal Reasoning, Gautam busted a common myth: 'You don't need to be legally literate. Familiarity with current legal developments is more important than rote learning legal jargon.' Importance of mock tests and coaching 'Mocks are non-negotiable. They show where you stand and how to adjust your preparation. CLAT changed drastically post-2020, so being aware of evolving patterns through mocks is crucial,' the CLAT topper said. While Gautam strongly benefited from coaching, he emphasised its purpose. 'Coaching doesn't make you successful – your effort does. What coaching gives is structure, discipline, and mentorship,' he said, noting that Legal Edge provided helpful material and guidance, particularly in General Knowledge. 'Mentorship, for me, meant someone analysing my mock scores, helping identify weak areas, and showing how to work on them,' he added. Tips on staying focused Addiction to social media, Gautam revealed, was his biggest challenge during preparation. 'I was distracted in Class 11 and even into 12th. The turning point was admitting to myself that it was hurting my preparation,' he shared. Deleting apps and seeking his parents' and teachers' supervision helped him regain control. 'Distractions will vary, but the first step is honest acceptance,' he said. Advice for future aspirants 'Start reading newspapers, editorials, anything,' he advised. 'Focus on improving reading speed and comprehension. Simultaneously, begin basic maths: percentages, averages, ratios,' Gautam added. He also urged aspirants not to ignore maths. 'Many fear it irrationally. But CLAT maths is of Class 8-9 level. You must tackle it. Maths and GK are game-changers in top ranks,' he said. Delay in CLAT results Calling the five-month delay in publication of CLAT results from December 2024 to May 2025 'distressing', Gautam said uncertainty was the real burden. 'At one point, it seemed the counselling process had been pushed indefinitely. Aspirants shouldn't be the ones suffering due to others' errors,' he said. The road ahead Gautam has not yet committed to a legal specialisation but is keeping his options open. 'College will help me figure that out,' he said. He's currently reading Dr B R Ambedkar's Annihilation of Caste and prefers spending leisure time walking or talking to friends rather than engaging in sports. In his words, 'CLAT may be unpredictable, but with consistency, mentorship, and self-discipline, it's absolutely conquerable.'
