Garbage Piles Up in Pune’s Outskirts Amid PMC Negligence

Pune, 19th April 2025: While the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) continues to promote its vision of a “Clean Pune, Beautiful Pune”, the ground reality in several parts of the city tells a very different story. Across the city and especially in the newly merged villages, uncollected waste has begun piling up on roadsides, sparking serious concerns about public health and administrative accountability.

From Sus and Mhalunge to Baner, Pashan, Vadgaon, and Dhayari, the sight of overflowing garbage bins and rotting waste dumped in the open has become a daily nuisance. Local residents say that PMC’s garbage vans, tasked with daily collection, have gone missing from their neighborhoods for days on end.

“We haven’t seen the garbage truck in three days,” said a resident of Dhayari. “People in our society are forced to pile up trash near the gates or throw it on the roadside because there’s simply no other option.”

This mounting garbage problem is not just about visual filth—it’s fast becoming a public health hazard, especially in the suburban belts. The stench emanating from neglected garbage bins spreads through the air, making it unbearable for pedestrians and commuters, and increasing the risk of vector-borne diseases as summer temperatures soar.

Despite the PMC having allocated crores of rupees annually for waste management under the Swachh Bharat Mission, residents and activists are now questioning where that money is going. Though garbage bins have been installed at strategic locations across the city, their utility is lost if they remain unemptied for days.

Waste collection in many housing societies is also hit-or-miss. While some societies report regular pickups, many others, especially in the city’s outskirts, complain of inconsistent and negligent service by contractors hired by the PMC.

“Why should we suffer because someone didn’t do their job?” asked a resident from Baner. “We are paying taxes, yet we’re living amidst garbage.”

Another resident from Lohgaon added, “We are forced to throw garbage near the Shamshan Bhumi on Wagholi road.”

As Pune continues to grow, incorporating new villages and expanding its urban footprint, waste management remains a glaring weak link in its civic governance. The disconnect between PMC’s promises and its execution on the ground is eroding public trust.

Citizens are now urging the administration to act swiftly, deploy more garbage collection vehicles, enforce accountability among contractors, and ensure timely collection from every nook and corner of the city. If not addressed urgently, Pune’s dream of being a clean and smart city could rot alongside its garbage heaps.