PUNE: On Wednesday, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) imposed a restriction on construction activities, limiting them to 14 hours a day due to residents’ concerns over pollution.
“With immediate effect, all construction and excavation activities within the municipal limits of Pune will only be allowed from 7 AM to 9 PM,” stated a directive from city engineer Aniruddha Pawaskar.
The directive was prompted by an increase in health complaints linked to construction activities. “If valid complaints are received, measures such as ceasing work will be enforced,” he informed TOI.
PMC officials added that residents impacted by noise or air pollution from construction can file complaints with the civic administration by contacting the PMC care helpline or the building permission department.
Environmental expert Vaishali Patkar emphasized the need for stricter monitoring of construction sites and suggested the use of GPS-enabled cameras for quick detection of violations.
According to PMC statistics, approximately 2,500 building permissions are granted each year within the civic limits, and this number is expected to rise as the PMC becomes the planning authority for 23 newly merged areas.
Opposition Discontent with Budget
Opposition parties have criticized the PMC budget (2026-27) for an “imbalance” in fund allocations. Congress corporators expressed concerns that opposition representatives were not given sufficient funds, while NCP corporators described the budget as “unrealistic” due to the absence of clear plans to boost the civic body’s revenue. A special general body meeting convened on Wednesday to deliberate on the civic budget.
