Pune: NIBM Annex Residents Declare Hunger Strike Over Years of Civic Neglect
Kondhwa, 16th June 2025: After more than a decade of unaddressed civic issues, residents of Survey No. 25-26, NIBM Annex have announced an indefinite hunger strike starting June 22, citing persistent negligence by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).
The residents allege that despite years of written complaints, legal petitions, and peaceful demonstrations, their appeals have gone unanswered — leaving them with no access to PMC water supply, crumbling roads, and non-functional civic amenities.
“We’ve exhausted every option”
“We’ve followed every legal and democratic path — from filing PILs to meeting corporators and MPs. Yet, nothing has changed,” said Advocate Kishor Baligar, one of the key organisers of the protest. “We are left with no choice but to go on a hunger strike to assert our right to basic services.”
The agitation is supported by a group of professionals from the community, including ex-servicemen, engineers, and chartered accountants, who have joined hands to demand long-overdue action.
Key Demands
At the core of the residents’ demands is the installation of an 8-inch water pipeline from the PMC’s main water line to several housing societies in the area, including Dorabjee Paradise, Urban Space Phases 1 and 2, VTP Celesta, and others.
“For over 15 years, we’ve relied entirely on private tankers, spending crores out of our own pockets,” said a resident from Dorabjee Paradise. “And yet, we’re being charged for PMC water in our property tax. This is unjust.”
The residents have asked PMC to:
Waive water charges in property tax bills until regular PMC supply begins
Investigate illegal water connections in nearby pockets
Repair and maintain internal roads and improve overall infrastructure
Stop allocation of amenity plots to private players and develop them for public use
Improve coordination between PMC and MSEDCL to avoid service lapses
No Response Despite Repeated Appeals
Despite the PMC’s annual budget crossing ₹12,600 crore, residents say their neighbourhood has been left out of the city’s development plans.
“There is no accountability,” said a member of the protest committee. “We’ve submitted our grievances to every authority — the Chief Minister, Deputy CMs, Pune Police Commissioner, District Collector, and even local MLA Chetan Tupe — but we’ve received no response till date.”
Appeal for Urgent Intervention
In their formal representation to authorities, residents have stated that the hunger strike is not a political move but a desperate attempt to secure their fundamental rights.
“We still hope the administration acts before we are forced to risk our health and lives through this strike,” Baligar said. “This is not just about water — it’s about dignity, equity, and being treated as citizens of Pune.”
