Residents flag rising air pollution

Balewadi citizens demand AQI monitoring, stricter dust control and enforcement

- Indu Bhagat

After residents of Balewadi raised concerns over worsening air quality, the Balewadi Welfare Federation wrote to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Commissioner demanding urgent enforcement of air pollution control measures.

Citizens reported a rise in respiratory illnesses, eye irritation, allergies and persistent fatigue, attributing the problems to deteriorating Air Quality Index (AQI) levels amid ongoing infrastructure and construction activities.

Speaking to The Free Press Journal (FPJ), residents informed that they demand the installation of a real-time AQI monitoring station in Balewadi, strict dust control at metro and construction sites, regular road dust suppression through mechanised cleaning, development of green buffers using native species and immediate action against open waste burning.