Pune’s streets are bearing the brunt of a post-Diwali waste crisis, with uncollected garbage festering in several neighbourhoods days after the celebrations ended. While Diwali brought joy, the aftermath has highlighted the city’s challenges in handling festival waste, with mounting litter posing both health and environmental risks. In densely populated areas like Undri and Kadnagar Chowk, abandoned firecracker stalls have become de facto dumping sites, blending residential waste with remnants from the festivities. “We’re left with piles of garbage as the authorities struggle with collection,” stated an Undri resident, pressing for an overhaul in the city’s waste collection practices, especially during high-waste periods like festivals.
Areas such as Golibar Maidan and Wanowrie have been especially impacted, with post-Diwali discards—including burnt cracker remnants and plastic waste—now littering open grounds. In Wanowrie, pre-Diwali renovation debris and discarded furniture remain uncollected, turning open grounds into unofficial dump yards. As per residents, the neglected waste piles are attracting a rising mosquito population, further compounding sanitation concerns. A sanitation worker from Wanowrie explained that improper waste handling by vendors worsens the situation. “Many vendors leave behind debris without consolidating it, complicating our tasks,” the worker remarked, calling for more accountability from vendors as well as timely municipal support.
While sanitation workers have resumed collection after Diwali, they face ongoing challenges due to limited infrastructure. Workers report that standard collection carts are insufficient to handle larger items such as discarded furniture from housing societies. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has attempted to address these issues by offering larger waste collection vehicles upon request from housing societies, yet residents assert that delays in collection disrupt daily life, urging for a more proactive approach from civic authorities.
From a sustainability perspective, the current crisis underscores the need for robust waste management, especially during festivals. With the rising urban population, it is essential for Pune to adopt sustainable waste handling solutions that not only focus on cleanliness but also reduce health risks linked to unmanaged garbage. By integrating better vendor practices, enhancing public awareness, and improving waste collection frequency, the city can foster a cleaner, healthier post-festival environment, ensuring that celebrations do not leave behind lasting environmental footprints. The PMC’s response to this pressing issue will serve as a benchmark for civic responsibility in an urban landscape that’s increasingly attuned to sustainability and public health.
