Keshavnagar residents send a powerful message to PMC – no basic services, no taxes. Image © puneripages.in
By Prashant for PuneriPages.in
For years, I’ve watched Keshavnagar’s residents pay their property taxes like clockwork, clinging to the hope that the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) would finally keep its promises. Year after year, the bills got paid. And year after year, what did they get? Roads that look like war zones, taps that run dry, dark streets that invite danger, and garbage that never seems to leave. Frankly, it’s heartbreaking — and infuriating.
Now, their patience has run out.
In a move that’s part protest, part survival strategy, the people here have sent a loud, clear message to the PMC: If you can’t give us the basics, you’re not getting our tax money. This isn’t a polite request. This is a fight.
Table of Contents
Life Here, Up Close
Roads
Calling them “roads” feels generous. In summer, they kick up enough dust to choke you. In monsoon, they turn into brown rivers that trap two-wheelers and stall cars. It’s not commuting — it’s an obstacle course.
Water
Many households don’t even have a proper water connection. Families wait for overpriced tankers, never sure if they’ll come that day. Imagine living in a city and having to gamble every morning on whether you’ll have water to cook, bathe, or even drink.
Streetlights
Once the sun dips, darkness swallows entire lanes. Walking home becomes an act of bravery, especially for women and kids. The fear isn’t paranoia — it’s experience.
Garbage & Drainage
Overflowing bins. No real drainage. Monsoon floods that bring disease right to your doorstep. We’re not talking inconvenience here — we’re talking public health hazards.
Why ‘No Tax’ Isn’t Just a Slogan
Keshavnagar pays some of the highest property taxes in Pune. Yet it’s the posh neighborhoods like Koregaon Park and Kharadi that see the beautification projects, while this area gets crumbs. Taxes are supposed to be a fair exchange — we pay, you provide. Right now, that deal is broken.
How Did It Get This Bad?
The short version: Keshavnagar was dragged into PMC limits after years of wild, unplanned construction. But the roads, water lines, drains, and streetlights never followed. The city inherited a mess — and has done almost nothing to clean it up.
PMC’s Promises, Residents’ Reality
Yes, officials say they’ll “review the issues.” But ask anyone here, and they’ll tell you — we’ve heard that before. This time, they want deadlines, budgets, and bulldozers on the ground. Words won’t fill potholes or bring water to a dry tap.
Why This Fight Matters to All of Pune
Keshavnagar is just the start. This protest is a warning: ignore the city’s neglected neighborhoods, and more residents will push back. People are done being polite about bad governance.
If PMC wants to avoid a city-wide tax revolt, they need to show up here — fast — with real work, not just press releases.
About The Author
