Pune: Residents of 18 housing societies in the Handewadi-Autadewadi area in Hadapsar have warned of an agitation, including hunger strike, from May 8 over the lack of civic services and power disruptions even after becoming a part of Pune Municipal Corporation.The housing societies collectively sent a letter to Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) seeking a joint meeting to resolve their issues, including inadequate water supply, huge expenses on water tankers, poor road network, daily traffic jams and erratic power supply. Residents said the issues were not resolved despite repeated follow-ups, including meetings at the office of Pune divisional commissioner. They stressed the administration should come out with specific timelines to address these problems.Representatives from 18 to 20 housing societies have resolved to go on a hunger strike on May 8. An agitation against lack of water supply and power supply disruptions would be held on May 9. They have planned to intensify the agitation in case of no communication from the PMC and the MSEDCL over the issues. The problems have been raised on various platforms including .Aasish Ingale, one of the representatives of ye housing societies, said, “We had hoped for some positive breakthroughs after the inclusion of our area in the PMC limits, but we are very disappointed now. Residents are paying a huge amount of property tax every year, but they are not getting any good services in return. The PMC collects property tax of over Rs8 crore every year from the housing societies in the Autade-Handewadi area. More properties are slated to come up. The infrastructure is not matching the growth. We are expecting the PMC commissioner to address our issues on priority.”The area lacks drainage networks and proper streetlights. There is no garden either.Ingale said the housing societies’ representatives expect the civic chief to visit their area and hold discussions on the issues being raised. They also want action against officials responsible for their plight.
