Pune: Kondhwa Residents Thank Authorities for Stopping Illegal Bakra Mandi
Kondhwa, 3rd June 2025: The Kausar Baug Residents Forum (KBRF) has lauded the Pune Police, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), and local representatives for acting swiftly to stop the unauthorized establishment of a ‘Bakra Mandi’ (goat market) in Kondhwa. Their timely intervention has helped ease traffic chaos, ensure cleanliness, and preserve the residential character of the locality ahead of Eid al-Adha.
The KBRF submitted a formal letter of appreciation, highlighting how increased patrolling and enforcement efforts successfully curbed roadside vending of goats and fodder. For years, the presence of informal animal markets on narrow internal roads during the festive season had become a source of frustration for the residents, with congestion, littering, and general disorder disrupting daily life.
Community Voices Relief
“This area is home to 40 to 50 housing societies. It’s a dense residential zone, not suitable for commercial livestock trade,” said Nisar Attar, a representative of the Kausar Baug Residents Forum, speaking to Punekar News. “Earlier, there was a lot of nuisance, especially during festival days. People would park haphazardly, and traffic would be completely blocked. But this time, authorities responded to our concerns quickly. The PMC, Police, and even the Animal Husbandry Department took the matter seriously and did not permit the mandi. Their coordination deserves praise.”
Attar added that the forum approached civic and law enforcement agencies well ahead of the festival, and received full cooperation. “It was a collective success,” he said.
High Prices and New Trends Impact Ritual Practice
Local resident Mohammad Saif shared another dimension of the issue. “There’s a bit of chaos even now, but it’s different. Many people are bypassing the local markets altogether. Goat prices have skyrocketed, and people are ordering Qurbani services through third-party handlers. Fewer people are going through the traditional process themselves,” he explained.
He added that the absence of unregulated street-side animal trading has noticeably reduced the usual pre-festival traffic mess. “While there’s still demand, people are adapting to new methods. The shift may also be influenced by rising costs and a desire for more organized, hygienic systems,” Saif noted.
A Cleaner, Calmer Kausar Baug
Residents say this year feels markedly more peaceful. Roads once choked by livestock sellers and buyers are now flowing with normal traffic. With the authorities’ intervention, the spirit of the festival is being observed without the usual disturbances, they say.
