Pune: In the bustling IT hub of Hinjewadi, home to numerous small and large IT companies, residential development has exploded alongside the growth of commercial projects.
Despite the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) collecting crores of rupees in revenue from these projects, the body has been accused of neglecting its responsibilities in providing necessary civic and infrastructure services.
As a result, local Gram Panchayats, particularly in Man and Hinjewadi, are bearing the brunt of this negligence.
Man's population has surged to around 50,000, with rapid expansion continuing. While MIDC grants permissions for large residential projects and collects substantial taxes, it has consistently failed to ensure that developers meet basic infrastructural requirements.
Developers are expected to build sewage treatment plants, solid waste management facilities, and proper drainage systems, yet many projects lack these critical systems.
Local residents have raised serious concerns about the environmental impact of this negligence. Several large residential societies have been dumping waste in open areas, leading to filth and unpleasant odors in many neighborhoods.
Even more alarming is the release of untreated sewage into natural water bodies, which has resulted in significant environmental damage. Groundwater contamination and soil infertility have increased, and local farmers are witnessing their land become barren.
Gram Panchayats are now under immense pressure to provide basic civic amenities. The Panchayats are struggling to keep up with the growing population's demands for water supply, road maintenance, and garbage management.
“MIDC collects crores of rupees from us, but refuses to spend any of it on solving the problems we face. We are left to manage everything on our own,” complained Archana Adhav, Sarpanch of Man.
The tension between MIDC and local residents has been growing, particularly concerning land acquisitions.
“Thousands of acres of our land were taken at cheap rates to develop IT parks, and whatever land was left has been handed to big builders. Now they sell flats worth crores while we suffer,” said Adhav. Locals have threatened to stage protests against what they see as years of injustice.
The root of the issue seems to lie in MIDC's handling of the revenue it collects. According to state government directives, 50% of taxes collected by local Panchayats—around ₹12 crore annually—goes to MIDC.
Despite this, little of the money is reinvested in infrastructure projects like road maintenance, waste management, or sewage treatment. “MIDC only collects taxes. They don’t care how bad the situation gets for us,” added Ganesh Jambhulkar, Sarpanch of Hinjewadi.