Construction conundrum: Pune’s growth brings dust, noise and daily struggles for residents

Aaryan Suresh, a BBA LLB student residing at Kumar Prithvi Properties, Malik Nagar, Kondhwa, has struggled with construction occurring directly opposite his apartment. Originally from the Andaman Islands, he finds the noise from drilling machines, especially in the mornings, extremely disruptive, particularly during exams. Beyond the noise, he is also concerned about the poor air quality.

“Every time I return from college, my hair is covered in dust, and I can even taste sand in my mouth. I used to eat street food but often fell ill, later realising it was due to the dust. Now, I stick to packed meals, and washing my face has become essential because of the dust settling on my skin,” he said.

Sharanappa Hirole, a security guard at a Kondhwa hostel, has faced challenges due to the ongoing construction. “For the past six to seven months, houses have been built in front of my home, and the roads are under repair. The dust from drilling, bulldozers, and hammers is unbearable, and spraying water barely helps it from settling on my window and bed,” Hirole said.

“After night shifts, I return home in the morning when the construction noise is at its peak, making it difficult to rest,” he said.

Approaching summer another worry

A Zomato delivery worker, who wished to remain anonymous, described his daily struggles caused by ongoing construction in Kondhwa. “Dust is everywhere, so I wear goggles and a mask on deliveries. With summer approaching, the heat will make it unbearable, but I can’t risk breathing in all that dust. Some roads are torn up for repairs, and during construction hours, my bike is covered in dust within minutes. The noise is another challenge; I often struggle to hear customers over the phone,” he said.

In Baner, a suburb in Pune, residents have been heavily impacted by Metro construction and the proliferation of corporate buildings, leading to persistent noise pollution and accessibility challenges for businesses. Shashikant Chakhale, a security guard stationed at a construction site in Baner for the past two years, has developed dust allergies since the project began. “Even though they water the site to control the dust, it still spreads. I have no choice but to sit here every day,” he said.

A salesman at Vijay Sales, a high-rise near the Metro construction in Baner, echoed similar concerns. “Customer footfall has dropped, and on some days, the noise from hammering and machinery is intolerable,” he stated.

At Pashan, Anuja Bali, founder of Itti’s Skill School Foundation and MyWasteMyResponsibility as well as a founder member of Warrior Moms expressed her distress. “As a healthy person, I never had any allergies or sickness. But for the last three years I have been prone to eye redness and irritation, chest congestion, continuous cough, and migraines,” she told The Indian Express.

Bali added that they could not change their situation due to the long-term inconvenience of being surrounded by the two under-construction high rises and home renovations next door.

“Such circumstances leave us with no choice but to be locked indoors with curtains pulled despite having a huge balcony with a garden. We are not able to enjoy our garden due to the dust. It is heartbreaking to see our green plants turn white. I wear masks all the time, and people make fun of me but only I know how bad it will be if I don’t wear a mask. Have to keep our windows closed at all times due to the people from neighbouring communities burning chulha (firewood) to heat water. That smoke is a trigger and we go into bouts of dry allergic cough,” said Bali, whose husband is dependent on inhalers. Their son also missed many weeks of school due to wheezing and allergy attacks in the past three years.

“Due to the dust, doctors have prescribed that his bedsheets and pillow covers are changed every day, and you can imagine the extra burden of washing and drying all that laundry especially when there is continuous construction next door,” said Bali, who as a member of Warrior Moms demands action from the city administration.

Dr Vijay Warad, paediatrician, allergist and clinical immunologist from Shivajinagar noted an increase in the number of patients with skin, food, eye, and respiratory allergies. “The trigger in at least 40 per cent of cases is proximity to areas where construction sites are located or the exposure to construction-related work is high,” Dr Warad stated.

According to the World Health Organization, construction dust and noise pose significant health risks with noise pollution being identified as a major environmental contributor to health problems like sleep disturbance, hearing loss, and cardiovascular issues, while construction dust can lead to respiratory issues when inhaled.