Pune: Blue Ridge Residents In Hinjawadi Suffocating Due To Severe Air Pollution; Local Authorities ‘Struggle To Identify’ Source

Anaum Shaikh

Hinjawadi, 9th November 2023: The residents of Blue Ridge Township and nearby societies have been grappling with extremely distressing air pollution, causing various health problems since mid-September. The air pollution, appearing as fog, is characterized by the pervasive odor of kerosene, burning plastics, and tires.

In a proactive measure to collectively address the issue, residents from all societies within Blue Ridge Township have united, establishing a WhatsApp group to discuss and strategize on resolving the problem. To document the impact and trace the origins of the odor, residents have collected individual data through a Google form. They have even accompanied the police on multiple occasions to assist in locating the origin of the distressing smell.

Numerous complaints have surfaced, detailing breathing difficulties, sore throats, burning sensations in the eyes, itchy throats, and even pregnant women experiencing distress. The community is witnessing an influx of ailments such as colds, coughs, sleep disturbances, and nausea.

Sunita Purushottam, an environmental specialist and a resident of Blue Ridge Township, said, “The noxious smell surfaces nightly, commencing between 10 PM and 11 PM and lingering on until the early hours of 3 AM or 4 AM, making it impossible for residents to keep their windows open.

Even with all doors and windows tightly shut, the stench permeates inside the flats, prompting severe health concerns among inhabitants, particularly among the vulnerable groups of children and senior citizens.”

Facing this distressing scenario, residents have submitted a formal letter of complaint to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board SRO Wakdewadi and have approached the Hinjawadi Police Station. Acknowledging the issue, the police have surveyed the neighborhood a few times but have been unsuccessful in identifying the exact source of the pollution.

However, the Gram Panchayat has asked residents to present a culprit to take action on.

Namrata Naik, a resident, said, “I have had a cough for the past few days. The 8 east-west facing towers of Blue Ridge are suffering the most due to the flow of the wind, but the problem is faced by all 28 towers of Blue Ridge and even nearby societies, harboring thousands of residents. The stench settles in our homes; it causes nausea and feels suffocating. My neighbor is pregnant, and she’s suffering too. We don’t know what long-term health problems this could have caused.”

Divyesh Bhalodi, another resident said, “I, along with a few other residents, accompanied the police. We went up to the new road connecting to Mhalunge, which is over 500 meters away, and the smell only got stronger, but we couldn’t find any fire or flame. We have acknowledged that the stench is coming from that side, but we still don’t know the pinpoint of the source or what exactly is causing it. All we know is that something is happening on a large scale and affecting a large number of people here. And since we cannot see the source, it’s probably being done in secret.”

Nitin Shinde, Sub-Regional Officer of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board in Pune, said, “The residents should lodge an official complaint with the local police station and approach the Gram Panchayat. We primarily deal with industrial waste, but if something comes up, I will take this up with the police as well.”