Wadgaon Sheri residents reclaim streets with massive cleanliness drive

Pune: As many as 50 residents of the Wadgaon Sheri area came together on Sunday morning for a determined three-hour cleanliness drive to clear the roads, footpaths and civic areas of garbage. The volunteers, supported by the PMC sanitation staff, collected heaps of garbage, scraped muck, and cleared chronic dumping spots across key stretches of the neighbourhood.The clean-up operation covered areas around St Arnold's School, Nyati Meadows Lane, Adarshnagar, Harinagar, Belmac, Shivaji Statue Chowk, outside Brahma SunCity, and the F Residences stretch. Tractor-trailers ferried away tons of garbage as residents worked in teams, ensuring footpaths were visible and corners disinfected.Kajal Patel, who took part in the drive, said, "This was much-needed action for our community, but it cannot end here. We need more garbage containers, regular monitoring, and scheduled clean-up. The civic body must ensure garbage bins and frequent cleaning, while we, as citizens, need to change behaviour through education and positive reinforcement."The drive was the culmination of weeks of follow-ups with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), which earlier conducted overnight clean-ups after media reports highlighted the stink and health risks. Yet, residents noted, garbage piles were quickly returning to the area."We could achieve perhaps 40% of what we set out to do. But if our half-day effort can transform the area, imagine what the PMC could do with its resources. The problem and the answer lie in their intent," said Rajan Vishwanathan, who managed the logistics.Lead organiser Mira Shah agreed and said, "We have stopped just talking and have started acting. Now, residents and civic staff must share the responsibility of keeping Wadgaon Sheri clean. As a community, we plan to sustain the effort with awareness campaigns, posters, and a door-to-door outreach drive on World Cleanliness Day, which falls on Sept 20. For residents, the message is clear: a clean Wadgaon Sheri is not just PMC's duty but a shared mission."