Dhanori and Lohegaon Join Forces to Protest Civic Neglect

Angered by decades of ignored complaints, thousands of people in Dhanori and Lohegaon have pledged to abstain from future civic elections, indicating intense disillusionment with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). 

Mrudula Narale

Pune, 11 June 2025: With more than three lakh citizens spread over over 300 housing societies and millions of individual dwellings, these localities have been under the PMC since 2017. Still, the absence of the primary infrastructure—tar roads, a steady water supply, and working streetlights—is still a part of everyday life. In a concerted display of rebellion, more than 100 local representatives took up the cause and protested outside the PMC headquarters, presenting a formal list of demands to the Municipal Commissioner.

Commuting on the Dhanori and Lohegaon roads is an everyday risk. Unpaved roads with potholes, some as deep as 6-7 feet wide and 4 feet deep, become slippery, muddy quagmires during the rains. These conditions have led to constant accidents, with motorbikes skidding and pedestrians, including children, getting injured. The road conditions have cut communities off, with school buses, cars, and even ambulances unable to reach most societies. 

Water shortages aggravate the crisis. Most societies rely on costly private tankers, depleting maintenance funds and making inhabitants bear costs of crores every year. Even though it pays an estimated Rs 700 crore in property and water tax, the region receives little in the way of improved services, leading to demands for tax refunds. In other areas, such as Defence Colony, restricted availability of water through community taps compels residents to line up for the basics, while higher societies grapple with reduced water 2 .pressure owing to the absence of specialized water infrastructure.

Health hazards are increasing with open sewage and inefficient drainage systems providing breeding grounds for mosquitoes and flies, with fears of contracting dengue and malaria. Exposed transformers over water-soaked potholes increase electrocution risks, threatening lives. Daily routines are also further disrupted by frequent power outages, keeping residents literally and figuratively in the dark.

The PMC’s broken promises, such as a delayed road project, have undermined trust. While development plans are sanctioned and completion certificates given, the lack of civic infrastructure illustrates the disconnect between governance and development. The residents’ choice to boycott elections highlights their call for accountability and timely action to solve these long-standing problems, making Dhanori and Lohegaon safe, working communities.

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