Open defence land in Pune and Khadki Cantonments becomes trash dumping grounds

Pune: Large stretches of open defence land in cantonment areas are increasingly being misused for dumping debris, grazing buffaloes and illegal activities, triggering concern among Army officers, residents and activists over security and civic neglect.Several unfenced plots located in prime locations under the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) and Khadki Cantonment Board (KCB), many of which are valued at several crores of rupees, have gradually turned into garbage dumps and informal activity zones due to poor monitoring and weak enforcement by the authorities.One such open plot near The Bishop's School in Pune cantonment was recently found being used to graze buffaloes, with the herd tied to trees inside the defence land parcel.Residents said that the site remains open and unattended, allowing unrestricted access to outsiders.In another case, truckloads of construction debris were dumped on an open defence plot along Duncan Road in the Khadki cantonment area, barely 100m from the KCB headquarters.This road stretch is also poorly lit, making surveillance difficult during the night. Cantonment officials admitted that they had little information about those responsible for the dumping, citing lack of CCTV coverage in the area.A senior Army officer, on condition of anonymity, said, "These land parcels were once prestigious addresses and strategic buffers for military installations. Today, many of them have become dumping grounds, eyesores and security liabilities."Residents and activists said the neglect of open defence land has become increasingly visible over the years.Apart from garbage dumping and debris accumulation, several Old Grant Bungalows (OGBs) in the cantonment areas remain abandoned, locked or in a dilapidated condition.Cantonment activists warned that the continued deterioration of these strategically located properties could have long-term consequences for both military security and urban development in Pune."These open and neglected parcels pose real operational and security concerns because unrestricted access allows unknown people to enter sensitive zones. At the same time, valuable urban land is being lost to disorder and encroachment," said Murtaza Poonawala, an activist from the Camp area.According to activists, poor coordination between cantonment boards and Local Military Authorities (LMAs), combined with prolonged administrative procedures, has led to weak enforcement on the ground. They alleged that complaints regarding illegal dumping and encroachments often remain unresolved for months.A senior Army officer from the LMA, which is the Dakshin Maharashtra and Goa Sub Area, told TOI, "We are in the process of fencing these plots properly and such a procedure is already ongoing. It will take a few months to see the actual work on the ground. But we are sensitive about the issue."In certain cases, sources said that they have acted against violators and taken some measures."However, it is practically impossible to monitor such activities as we don't have a dedicated manpower for this. We have a patrolling team but it works in a set manner. Now, we are in the process of implementing stringent measures to prevent such activities," added a source."Fencing of vulnerable plots, installation of CCTV cameras, improved street lighting and regular joint inspections by civic and military authorities will certainly prevent such misuse of these properties," said a former member of the PCB.Meenakshi Lohia, chief executive officer (CEO) of the KCB, didn't respond to phone calls when TOI made attempts to contact her.