The Pune Municipal Corporation has collected Rs 46.5 lakh in fines from 256 people for illegally dumping construction and demolition waste in public spaces this year, as the civic body expands collection and processing facilities across the city.
Santosh Warule, head of PMC’s solid waste management department, said the administration had established dedicated facilities to transport construction and demolition waste. “The PMC has urged people to use the transport facility. Defaulters will be subjected to penalties, and this drive will continue in the days to come,” he said.
Pune generates roughly 250 metric tonnes of construction and demolition waste every day, according to civic data. The waste includes debris from construction, demolition and redevelopment activity, with residents reporting that illegal dumping has become a recurring problem in areas undergoing large-scale development.
The district administration has handed over two acres of land in Wagholi for a processing plant with a daily capacity of 250 metric tonnes. The facility recycles collected debris into reusable building materials, including blocks and aggregates. The capacity is equivalent to the city’s estimated daily generation, although the PMC’s enforcement and collection network is still being expanded.
The civic body has also prepared a Detailed Project Report assessing the volume, quality and sources of construction and demolition waste. The exercise followed consultations with stakeholders and is intended to support the city’s waste-management planning.
PMC plans to establish 10 dedicated collection centres across Pune. The centres are expected to have security personnel and manpower to support the collection process. Civic officials have identified several major generators, including PMC departments, utility providers such as gas and telecom companies, and private real estate developers.
Residents have raised concerns that debris dumped in public areas creates an eyesore and a health hazard. Shantanu Gosavi, a resident of Kothrud, said water stagnating around construction waste during the rainy season could encourage mosquito breeding and increase disease risks. Residents have called for tighter monitoring and suggested that the PMC deploy special night squads to catch violators.
A group of elected representatives has separately proposed a cash reward for citizens who report illegal dumping in public spaces and riverbeds. Under the proposal, informants would receive Rs 5,000 for every valid lead, with the reward pool funded through fines collected from violators. The proposal has been submitted to the PMC, but the input does not establish whether it has been approved.
The PMC has set up a toll-free helpline, 18002339595, for construction and demolition waste-related enquiries and transport requests. The civic body has said its enforcement drive will continue.