Residents protest dumping of debris in Pune's Ramnadi

Residents of Ramnadi area on Saturday staged a protest against dumping of debris in the river for construction of a compound wall.

Architect Sarang Yadwadkar, one of the protesters, told DNA that excavation is done for the construction of wall and debris is dumped in the river by the contractor. He said the debris should be immediately removed from the river and residents should be assured that civic work will be carried out after taking authorities’ permission.

Activists Vinod Jain, Shailendra Patel, Shailendra Kate, Sanjay Bhosale, Parinita Dandekar and Rajendra Teredesai took part in the protest.

Yadwadkar said the contractor, who has been commissioned to carry out the work, has been conducting heavy excavation work and indiscriminately dumping large quantities of soil and debris into the Ramnadi, thereby damaging its width and banks, besides seriously jeopardising its inherent water carrying capacity.

He said people living in Bavdhan area had to face serious flooding problems last monsoon with houses and surroundings deluged by floodwaters, causing extensive damage to property.