Pune residents demand action as construction debris and dust worsen city commute, air pollution

Indian Express

03-06-2025

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.'