Condoms, Syringes, Alcohol Bottles, Plastic: Pune Ploggers Find Vetal Tekdi Flooded With Trash During Cleanup Drive – Check Shocking Photos Here |
In one more incident highlighting concerns over safety and cleanliness at Pune’s hills, a cleanup drive at the city’s famous Vetal Tekdi revealed waste such as condoms, syringes, alcohol bottles, and plastic.
The Pune Ploggers is a non-profit community organisation based in Pune dedicated to promoting environmental cleanliness through the activity of plogging. Founded in 2019, the organisation merges fitness with environmental conservation, encouraging participants to jog while picking up litter in public spaces.
Last Sunday, when Pune Ploggers and its members reached Vetal Tekdi to pick up litter as they jogged on the hill, they were shocked to find the forest at the hill flooded with household waste, plastic bottles, condoms, syringes, and even glass alcohol bottles scattered.
In a statement after the cleanup drive on April 18, the organisation said, “Forests are not dumping grounds. Whether you’re going out for a hike or a walk, please carry your waste back. We all understand how precious nature is & how our actions impact the environment. Let’s take that awareness forward by taking responsibility & inspire others to do the same.”
In one more incident highlighting concerns over safety and cleanliness at Pune’s hills, a cleanup drive at the city’s famous Vetal Tekdi revealed waste such as condoms, syringes, alcohol bottles, and plastic. | Pune Ploggers
The Pune Ploggers is a non-profit community organisation based in Pune dedicated to promoting environmental cleanliness through the activity of plogging. | Pune Ploggers
Founded in 2019, the organisation merges fitness with environmental conservation, encouraging participants to jog while picking up litter in public spaces. | Pune Ploggers
Last Sunday, when Pune Ploggers and its members reached Vetal Tekdi to pick up litter as they jogged on the hill, they were shocked to find the forest at the hill flooded with household waste, plastic bottles, condoms, syringes, and even glass alcohol bottles scattered. | Pune Ploggers
Junior participant in plogging drive | Pune Ploggers
Drug syringes found at Vetal Hill | Pune Ploggers
Alchol Bottles | Pune Ploggers
Plastic and household trash
| Pune Ploggers
Meanwhile, the Pune Municipal Corporation has taken note of the trash and registered your complaint.
Pune hills
The hills in Pune are often in the news for the ongoing battle by Punekars to save the hills. Two years before, thousands of Punekars marched to save Vetal Tekdi from the construction of Bal Bharati Paud Phata Road passing through the foothills.
The battle still continues with residents asking for heritage status for the hills.
Additionally, with rising incidents of robbery and drug and alcohol abuse at the city hills like Vetal Tekdi, Mahatma Tekdi, Sus, Pashan, Aundh, and Baner Tekdis, the problem is rampant, and residents have time and again raised the issues. After the rape of a woman at Bopdev Ghat in Pune, Pune Police had started more patrolling on hills across Pune. Even the proposal for more CCTV and patrolling was put forward.
Recently, trash bottles, chip wrappers, garbage dumps, used condom packets, and liquor bottles are seen everywhere at Lohegaon Hill. | Sourced Photo
Recently, trash bottles, chip wrappers, garbage dumps, used condom packets, and liquor bottles are seen everywhere at Lohegaon Hill.
According to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) data, starting from January to December 2024, the civic body took action against 561 violators for the burning of waste, and it recovered a fine of ₹7,69,210. The civic body also took action against 189 people and collected a fine of ₹78,068 for littering and not keeping their surroundings clean.
Additionally, the Forest Department conducts regular patrolling of these areas including hills and forest areas; however, they claimed with the limited manpower, it is not possible to keep a 24×7 surveillance. They are even planning to construct a wall—compounding the entire forest areas and eco-sensitive zones.
