Pune:Unchecked garbage dumping across forest pockets in the fringe areas of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal limits is emerging as a serious ecological concern, endangering wildlife and disrupting the natural balance of these green zones, forest officials and environmentalists have warned.The problem is particularly visible along major highways, including the Pune-Nashik, Mumbai-Bengaluru, old Pune-Mumbai, Pune-Solapur, and Pune-Ahmednagar routes, where mounds of plastic, food waste, and debris have become a common sight within or near forested patches.Officials from the forest department said the situation has worsened over the past few years, with little mechanism in place to remove the waste.“These dumping sites are not just an eyesore but a major ecological threat. Wildlife often consumes plastic and other harmful materials, which has proven fatal in several instances reported in the district,” Mangesh Tate, the assistant conservator of forest, Pune division, toldTOI.The casual attitude of commuters and locals is compounding the issue. People on their daily commute throw garbage into these forest pockets without understanding the ecological consequences. It directly disturbs the food chain and habitat of animals, said the officials.Environmentalists pointed out that such dumping alters soil composition, contaminates water sources and attracts scavengers, thereby changing the natural behaviour of wildlife.“When animals begin feeding on waste, it leads to long-term ecological imbalance. Herbivores ingest plastics, while carnivores are drawn closer to human settlements, increasing the risk of conflict,” an environmental activist working in the region said.Adding to the concern is the frequent burning of dumped garbage by unidentified individuals.Forest officials said such fires often continue for days, releasing toxic fumes and posing risks not only to wildlife but also to residents of nearby villages.Residents have also raised alarms about the growing problem.”The smoke from burning garbage lingers for days and causes breathing issues, especially among children and the elderly. We have complained multiple times, but there is no regular clean-up mechanism,” said Nagesh Yelwande, from Moi village living near one of the affected forest patches along the Pune-Nashik highway.Farmers, too, have been contributing to the dumping, often disposing of agricultural waste and leftover produce in these areas. While biodegradable waste may seem less harmful, experts caution that it still disrupts natural ecosystems when dumped in large quantities.Environmentalists stressed the need for coordinated action between municipal corporations, the forest department and local communities.Forest officials echoed the urgency, warning that without immediate intervention, the region’s already fragile forest zones could face further degradation, putting both wildlife and human populations at risk.Tate said, “We have even registered cases against the violators and asked them to clean the areas. It is practically impossible for us to deploy forest guardsat each suchlocations. People also need to adhere to the basic civic discipline.”No Manpower To Check Or Clear PatchesThe forest department can’t prevent dumping of garbage owing to its limited manpowerPatches are fenced in some pockets but not allThe department doesn’t have the mechanism to lift this garbage regularlyIt takes help from the nearest municipal authoritiesTonnes of garbage, hotel and agriculture waste is found at these pointsEnvironmentalists said wanton dumping disturbs the forest ecosystemBurning waste inside or near forest areas is extremely dangerous. It can trigger forest fires and severely impact air quality in surrounding regions. We have reported forest fires in the last few years IA Forest OfficerThere has to be strict enforcement, better waste management systems along highways and awareness campaigns to prevent such practices. Otherwise, the long-term damage to these forest ecosystems could be irreversible IArjun Medankar I Activist from Alandi
