Pune: Entrepreneurs operating in the Bhosari MIDC industrial area of Pimpri Chinchwad are facing severe challenges due to the lack of basic infrastructure.
Problems such as waterlogging, non-existent underground drainage, and unmanaged waste have made it difficult for businesses to operate smoothly.
Despite the municipal corporation collecting significant property taxes, the provision of adequate facilities has been lacking, resulting in growing discontent among the business community.
The absence of a dedicated fire station is a critical concern for the area, which houses numerous industries. Entrepreneurs have been demanding the establishment of a fire department office for years, but their requests have gone unanswered, leaving them worried about emergency response times in the event of a fire.
Additionally, the lack of a proper drainage system is a major issue. Bhosari MIDC was transferred to the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation in 1984, but since then, no sewage pipelines have been installed.
As a result, chemical effluents from the industries are being directly discharged into open drains, leading to significant environmental pollution. The Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) project, inaugurated several years ago, remains non-operational, exacerbating the problem.
The condition of the roads in Bhosari MIDC is another major grievance. The internal roads are riddled with potholes, causing inconvenience and accidents, especially during the monsoon season.
Some roads have been closed off due to ongoing work, further disrupting the daily commute of workers and entrepreneurs.
Waste management is also a persistent issue in the area. The garbage collection vehicles provided by the municipal corporation are insufficient to handle the waste generated by the industries, leading to the accumulation of waste outside many small businesses.
Hazardous industrial waste is often sold to scrap dealers, who burn the remaining waste, contributing to pollution.
Local entrepreneurs, including Sandeep Belsare, President of the Pimpri Chinchwad Small Entrepreneurs Association, and Abhay Bhor, President of the Forum of Small Scale Industries Association, have expressed their frustration with the situation.
They argue that despite paying all types of taxes, they are not receiving adequate facilities and are calling for the establishment of a separate industrial municipal corporation to ensure that tax revenues are used to build the necessary infrastructure in the area.
In response, Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh stated that the municipal corporation is working on resolving these issues. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the drainage pipelines has been prepared, and once approved by the state government, work will begin.
Singh also mentioned that efforts are being made to improve the roads and that the municipal corporation has proposed establishing two fire stations in each ward, which will benefit Bhosari MIDC. However, until these promises are fulfilled, the entrepreneurs of Bhosari MIDC continue to struggle with inadequate infrastructure.