Pune, August 8th, 2023: In a unified effort to address the pressing civic concerns in the jurisdiction of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), citizens from various parts of the city have come together to organize a protest march under the banner ‘Chalo PMC.’ The march, scheduled for Wednesday, aims to highlight the lack of basic facilities in different areas and urge the PMC to take immediate action.
With a staggering annual budget of approximately Rs 10,000 Crore (equivalent to around Rs 30 Crore per day), PMC stands as one of the most affluent municipal corporations in the country. Despite significant expenditure exceeding Rs 1 Lakh Crore in the last decade, citizens are grappling with issues such as untreated garbage, inadequate sewage management, and alarming pollution levels. Pune ranks among the top 50 most polluted cities worldwide.
An organizer of the protest march expressed the sentiment behind the movement, stating, “It’s time we question the Pune Municipal Corporation about the utilization of our hard-earned money. With a city budget of this magnitude, we expect better living conditions and a cleaner environment for ourselves and future generations.”
The movement, backed by various housing societies and associations, anticipates a participation of about a million people and aims to collect signatures from thousands of citizens. Addressing critical concerns such as the water supply shortage in recently merged villages, deplorable road conditions, and escalating pollution levels, the citizens intend to use the protest as a platform to demand immediate action from the PMC.
The protest march is set to commence at approximately 10 am from Mangala Theatre, located near the PMC building. The convergence of citizens from diverse backgrounds underscores the collective determination to hold authorities accountable for their responsibilities in providing essential services and maintaining a sustainable urban environment.
