Pune Municipal Corporation Launches Dual Crackdown on Civic Violations
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has intensified its enforcement efforts with simultaneous actions targeting two significant civic issues: unauthorized advertising hoardings and illegal dumping of construction debris near riverbanks. On Tuesday, the civic body's special drive resulted in the removal of four illegal hoardings as part of a broader campaign against such unauthorized structures.
Systematic Approach to Hoarding Regulation
PMC has deployed five dedicated squads for active execution of its anti-hoarding initiative. Madhav Jagtap, head of PMC's sky sign department, revealed that the administration is employing technological tools including Google Maps and specialized software to identify illegal hoardings across the city. "We will recover a fee with retrospective effect along with demolition charges of Rs 2 lakh from those found responsible for unauthorized installations," Jagtap stated firmly.
The recent survey conducted in Hadapsar area inspected 30 hoardings, building upon directives issued last year by the commissioner's office. This action followed concerns about suspicious data provided by ward offices regarding hoarding counts. In June 2025, officials from 15 ward offices had reported only 24 illegal hoardings in their neighborhoods, prompting the need for more accurate verification.
Public Support and Revenue Concerns
Local residents have welcomed PMC's proactive stance against illegal hoardings. Kothrud resident AS Dixit emphasized, "Illegal hoardings are visible not just in the old city areas but also in newly merged regions. This practice leads to substantial revenue loss for the corporation and significantly increases the threat of accidents due to potentially unsafe structures."
According to official civic data, there are currently 2,640 authorized hoardings within PMC limits. The administration categorizes any advertising material installed without proper permission as illegal, regardless of whether structural audits have been conducted. Many hoarding owners have avoided mandatory audits, which are required for license renewals.
Parallel Action Against Riverbed Pollution
In a related development, PMC has initiated stringent measures against contractors illegally dumping construction waste near riverbanks. The action was prompted after photographs of waste heaps circulated widely on social media platforms, drawing public attention to the environmental hazard.
Waste dumping has been observed at multiple sensitive locations including areas near PMC headquarters in Shivajinagar, adjacent to Amruteshwar Ghat, and beside the Jayantrao Tilak Bridge. This illegal activity persists despite the corporation establishing a processing plant in Wagholi and providing transportation facilities specifically for debris management.
Administrative Response and Future Plans
PMC additional commissioner Pavneet Kaur confirmed, "The administration will ensure immediate clearance of the dumped trash. We have instructed the deputy municipal commissioner of solid waste management to trace the source of this illegal activity and take appropriate action against the responsible contractors."
The municipal commissioner had recently ordered punitive measures including the filing of criminal cases against those disposing debris in riverbeds or public spaces. PMC has also engaged private parties to conduct independent inspections as part of its comprehensive monitoring strategy.
This dual-pronged approach demonstrates PMC's commitment to addressing both visual pollution from unauthorized advertisements and environmental degradation from improper waste disposal. The corporation plans to maintain constant monitoring through technological tools and ground inspections to prevent recurrence of these civic violations.
