Pune: Residents of Pune’s Kothrud area are preparing to hold a peaceful demonstration on Earth Day—Tuesday, April 22, 2025—to voice their opposition to what they call the unchecked and environmentally damaging expansion of the MIT-World Peace University (MIT-WPU) campus. The protest is scheduled to begin at 8:00 AM from the entrance of Sigma One Society and conclude at the university’s main gate near the iconic “Globe” structure.
Local citizens have expressed concern over the escalating pace of construction by the university, which they say is severely impacting the neighbourhood’s ecology and liveability. A large academic building has already been erected near Abhishilpa and Perinshree societies, and new excavation work has recently commenced behind Sigma One Society for yet another structure. Moreover, residents allege that the site currently used by the design school is being redeveloped into a new building.
This continued expansion has led to a surge in student numbers, resulting in heavy traffic congestion on the area’s narrow lanes. Increased vehicular pollution, frequent traffic snarls, and noise disturbances are now common complaints among locals. Additionally, they highlight the environmental cost—trees have been cut down, local bird habitats have been disrupted, and natural water retention areas have been destroyed. The peacocks that once roamed the area are now rarely seen, and residents are grappling with reduced water availability and disruptions due to student activities.
Organisers of the protest, led by the Citizens Forum @11 (CF@11), have emphasised that the march will be entirely peaceful. Participants are encouraged to wear white and carry water, caps, and sunglasses to cope with the summer heat. Black ribbons will be distributed as a symbol of the community’s discontent. There will be no roadblocks or confrontations, only posters, placards, and slogans to convey their message.
The protest is being coordinated by a core team comprising Sandeep Bhadkamkar, Adv. Ramchandra Nirmal, Mandar Kelkar, Makarand Bondre, Bhushan Oak, Dr. Anil Chitakke, Ganesh Khedkar, and Mahesh Paradkar. A press briefing will be conducted during the event by Bhadkamkar and Nirmal, and a formal handout listing the group’s demands will be circulated among participants and the media.
Residents are being called upon to join the initiative and take a stand to preserve their environment and community lifestyle.
