Why is environment not on any politician's agenda before the civic polls in Pune? | Pune News - The Times of India

In 2024, voters in the city went to polling booths for two key elections in a row, alongside the rest of the country and state -- the general elections and the assembly polls. During both sessions, climate change scientists worldwide were increasingly ringing alarm bells over various ecological developments. But 'environment' still remained conspicuously low on the political agenda for most candidates, cutting across party lines.In Oct this year, Earth reached its first 'climate tipping point', indicating that we are inching closer to catastrophic triggers, and even reversal measures are now limited in potential. Connecting to this larger ecosystem, Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad have no dearth of local environmental issues that residents are struggling with. In Dec 2025, pollution in Pimpri Chinchwad was found to be the worst in Maharashtra; in Pune, citizens are continually bandying together to halt the rapid decimation of trees on various fronts, be it on beloved tekdis, along riverbanks or in heritage gardens, all threatened by road or other projects. While citizens struggle for remedies, politicians continue to ignore these grave issues staring at them in the face. On the cusp of the much-awaited civic polls, voters ask: Why are political representatives and parties so averse to green agendas? Why are the subjects of pollution, biodiversity loss and depleting green cover a taboo for netas?Air pollution 'is invisible' fails to provide photo op for politicosAs of Dec 2025, the PM2.5 (particulate matter) concentration in Pune's air was reported as 21 times the World Health Organization (WHO) annual guideline value, said platform AQI Air, which curates data from eight pollution control monitors across the city. Its report added that Pune's air quality is moderate for seven months of the year, unhealthy for sensitive groups for three months, and completely unhealthy for two months. "Air pollution is ignored because it is invisible and slow. It does not hit like a flood, fire or accident," said Hema Chari, core-member of Warrior Moms, a national group raising awareness about air pollution and its health impacts. "People fall sick gradually and deaths are attributed to asthma, heart disease, stroke, or cancer, not 'air pollution'. Also, it has no single villain or source. Air pollution comes from vehicles, construction, industries, waste burning, power plants and household fuels, which makes it easy to shift blame, and hard to find fixes. Politicians prefer ribbon cutting and photo ops, so large infrastructure projects like roads, flyovers and Metro works take priority, even when they worsen dust, traffic and emissions," she added. In Pune, this contradiction is visible every day. Roads stay dug up for months, construction sites have zero checks, trees are hacked en masse, and traffic is poorly directed, raising PM10 and PM2.5 levels. "The most serious impact is on children. Long- term exposure to air pollution is now strongly linked to impaired neurodevelopment, reduced cognitive performance, learning difficulties, attention problems, higher risk of anxiety and depression," said Chari. "Clean air will improve only when it is treated like basic civic infrastructure, with strict enforcement at construction sites, protection of green cover, good public transport, zero tolerance for waste burning, and real accountability at the city level. Until this becomes a sustained political demand backed by informed voters, cities like Pune will continue to treat unhealthy air as an acceptable side effect of development," she added.IT engineer and clean air activist Prashant Raul echoed, "The environment should be a part of a politicians' long-term goals and policies. But our local representatives are stuck with short-term issues like water supply and Ladki Bahin. No one comprehends the harmful effects of polluted air, water and depleting tree cover on the quality of life. We have been demanding for an environment session in the parliament to prioritise concerns. Citizens must educate themselves and push authorities to make better policies that focus on the environment." Since several parts of the city are undergoing redevelopment, construction dust is a common complaint across neighbourhoods. "It has become difficult to breathe when you are outdoors, and even if you are at home and your windows are open. Air purifiers have become the norm. When I moved to the city a decade ago, the air was cleaner and construction was regulated. If this is not checked, we and our future generations will be in trouble," said IT professional Sonam Varmay.Loss of hills yr-long issue, so no quick political gainsResidents have for years protested the looming road project cutting through the hill from Paud Phata to Balbharati on SB Road, fearing the sheer ecological damage it portends. But few poll aspirants or elected representatives seem to be on their side. "When the environment is not treated as a political issue, consequences are often invisible at first but deeply felt over time. For instance, Pune has grown in a watershed area but today faces a severe groundwater crisis. Urban planning prioritises infrastructure, real estate, and economic growth. Urban ecologies like hills, wetlands, rivers, trees, manmade forests are seen as vacant or underutilised land rather than shared resources," said heritage advocate Prajakta Divekar, a member of Vetal Tekdi Bachao Kruti Samiti (VTBKS). Environmentalist and senior IT professional Makarand Shete agreed. "There is a lot of interest in real estate, so everything else takes a back seat. Many politicians are part of realty companies or have vested interests. They do not prioritise minimising environmental damage. In the absence of this will, encroachment and construction on hills continues. The few alert residents are forced to struggle for action. There is also major lack of transparency on tree felling, and one does not even know if their complaints are heard. Yet, active citizenry remains the true solution," he said. Divekar echoed, "Environmental problems are often long-term, gradual and less visible, making them harder to convert into quick political gains. So, they hardly feature on party agendas. Low public awareness, fragmented governance and lack of pressure from voters add to the mix." The city's hills have for long been at the receiving end of destruction as construction expands amid dwindling space. These green lungs have historically been instrumental in maintaining Pune's cool temperatures and replenishing groundwater reserves. Today, smaller hills are being excavated little by little under redevelopment schemes; bigger ones like Vetal Tekdi have citizens fighting tooth and nail for their protection. Pointing out that cities will be sustainable only when they build a healthy relationship with natural resources, Divekar said, "Even Article 21 of the Indian Constitution incorporates a clean and healthy environment as a fundamental right. However, the reality is that these issues are not a part of everyday politics. It enters public conversation only during disasters, leading to reactive governance rather than long-term planning." The solution places the burden on citizens. "Urban environments primarily need public stewardship. Citizens must educate themselves and engage actively in conservation. When environmental issues are not framed as political concerns, responsibilities shift to individual behaviour (waste segregation, water saving) rather than structural reform. This needs to be backed by systemic changes, which can only happen through political action. We must demand environmental sensitivity from local political representatives and for representation of these issues in election manifestos," added Divekar.Rivers are 'natural capital', yet ignored in project costsThe Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) in recent data adjudged the quality of the Mutha river near Sangam Bridge to be in the 'bad to very bad' category from Jan to Sept 2025, except in July. Similarly, the Mutha river near Deccan bridge was found to be 'heavily polluted' from Jan to May this year, and in the same category near Veer Savarkar Bhavan for four of the first nine months. Incidents of toxic foam and other crises constantly dotted the fate of the Indrayani and Pavana rivers in the last many months. But despite green tribunal and high court strictures, floodline norms continue to be flouted, major development projects threaten riverside flora and aquatic fauna, and administrations routinely fail to ensure adequate water/sewage treatment infrastructure. Shailaja Deshpande, founder of Jeevitnadi (which works towards protecting the city's rivers), said not considering the cost of 'natural capital' is the main reason for fast degradation of the environment, besides lack of proper sewage management, conservation strategies and awareness. "The final cost of any infra/development project would be considerably hiked if the net present value of the natural capital per year was added to it. This is never considered and calculated. If planners were to internalise the cost of the destruction of natural capital by calculating assets in the ecosystem, the budget of most projects would skyrocket," she said. "With this in mind, short-term solutions are sought, causing more destruction that is only reflected in the long run. Long-term benefits like water security, pollution control and food security, which are actually for public good, are not considered a priority, so they don't feature in political agendas. Only the benefit to a certain class of society is considered, both by politicians and bureaucrats," Deshpande added. According to her, awareness via public campaigns, education and strict enforcement of existing rules is the only way to tackle this. "Unless political representatives are forced to think of the environment and its benefits to society via their services as a basic civic facility, it will never feature on their manifestos. Projects like riverfront development (RFD) get a go-ahead because services offered by natural resources like rivers are not considered," she said. Lawyer Maitreya Ghorpade, who has represented citizens for various environment-related petitions, emphasized, "The role of the public in setting the agenda for elections cannot be overlooked. During the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections, we saw major candidates from Pune engage with voters about the RFD project solely because it was an issue persistently raised by people. The 2025 Delhi state assembly elections majorly featured concerns of air pollution and river restoration. The electorate must never forget the power they exercise in framing electoral issues."Elected netas do little to preserve city's reducing tree coverFrom pointing out gaping holes in PMC's tree census to agitating against mass tree-cutting for projects like riverfront development (RFD) or Metro, citizens have had their work cut out for them in the last few years. Rampant redevelopment has undeniably greyed the once-greener landscape of the city. But there are two reasons politicians don't talk about the environment or related issues, according to Ameet Singh, an economist who works actively on prevention of tree-felling activities in the city. "Firstly, politicians don't know enough about the environment, and secondly, they don't know what to do to fix the situation. It's always easier to blame someone or something over trying to find solutions," he said. Mechanical engineer Manoj Phulphagar makes it a point to attend as many tree-felling hearings as he can in his ward to register his objections as a citizen. He said, "What we expect from corporators is to act as a primary guardian of the city's green cover, ensuring that urban growth does not come at the cost of environmental health. Today, trees are being lost in alarming numbers in the name of so-called 'development.' There is little regard for their value, and they are often the first casualty of any infrastructure project. The minimum to expect from local leadership is respect for trees and a genuine commitment to protecting the environment. Sustainable development is not optional. It is every citizens' responsibility." "The current situation is detrimental to the health of all, especially children. Looking at the number of lung ailment cases, we must immediately address this crisis," he added. Singh pointed out, "Pune produces 3,500 tonnes of garbage per day, 164 crore litres of sewage per day and over 3 crore tonne of emissions per year as per reports. We put all this into the nature surrounding us, which is why our streets are full of garbage, rivers full of filth and air isn't breathable. But trees take this garbage, compost it and turn it into soil. They drink up the sewage and give us back clean water. They also breathe in polluted air and clean it up." He added, "The city needs 100-160 trees per person or over 100 crore-160 crore trees to deal with the ever-growing pollution. The last person to know this is a politician. That is why you don't see them talking about it or doing anything other than blaming others."Citizens Say"Air pollution in our neighbourhood is so bad that it is not just harmful for sensitive groups, but even otherwise healthy people. The laws exist, but enforcement is severely lacking. We keep hearing that a fine was imposed on an RMC plant or some builder was penalised, but nothing changes on ground. Corporators must take up environmental issues, be it air, water or tree cover. Development is ruining natural resources, and we don't want it at the cost of a healthy life. As citizens, we are not asking for anything extraordinary. Breathing has become difficult today and clean air is the most basic need of all -- Sagar Singh | Businessman and Wakad Resident__________________We worship rivers but look what we have done to ours. Our Mula, Mutha, Pavana and Indrayani all stink, harbour swarms of mosquitoes, emit poisonous gases, and carry dangerous chemicals and foam, while serving as contaminated sources of drinking water. Children fall sick and families suffer. This is because for years on end, politicians have ignored the issue. Every election witnesses the same promises about roads, flyovers, and infrastructure. But what about clean air, water and sewage-free rivers? Pune is dubbed a smart city, but we breathe and drink disease. This isn't what I want for my family. This election, citizens need to demand and vote for healthy natural resources. We must ask every candidate how exactly they plan to get things clean -- Kapil Agrawal | Pimple Nilakh Resident____________________Urban flora is not just a vital part of our heritage but also crucial for our wellbeing. Trees help improve air quality besides providing many other essential services. Most people don't talk much about the tree count because they don't feel a connection with nature anymore. But as citizens, it is our duty to help those fighting to protect this green cover. Whether future generations curse us or bless us depends on what we leave for them -- Janaki Gandhi | Jewellery Designer & Pimpri Chinchwad Resident____________________My childhood memories are deeply intertwined with the Pavana river and the iconic Moraya Gosavi temple. Days were spent playing cricket on an open ground nearby. The thrill of the game, laughter of friends, and freedom of endless space defined precious moments. The connection to nature was effortless and ever-present. These moments shaped who I am. As a parent today, it saddens me that my children cannot experience the same simple joys of being in nature as those surroundings are no longer accessible. Pune's green landscapes are disappearing, air quality worsening, and groundwater levels depleting. Our politicians must think long-term about the systemic impact on ecology and humans -- Punamchandra Kulkarni | Engineer and Magarpatta Resident