Members of the Youth Congress staged a protest on Thursday at BMCC Ground against the proposed construction activity on the campus. The members voiced their concerns over shrinking open spaces in the city.
The agitation began as soon as the groundbreaking ceremony was initiated. However, a heavy police presence at the site prevented the protesters from entering the premises.
Deccan Education Society (DES), which manages the ground, intervened. After a brief standoff, the DES Vice President and senior officials came forward and exchanged dialogues with the Youth Congress representatives. The management assured the protestors that their concerns would be presented to the educational board and management council and requested a 15-day period to respond formally.
Speaking to the media, Akshay Jain, President of the Media Cell, Maharashtra Youth Congress, criticised the sudden shift in the DES’s stance. “Until yesterday, the management claimed the ground would not be used for construction. Today, after our agitation, they’ve admitted in writing that nearly 15% of the ground will be utilised. Pune is already facing a serious shortage of public and sports grounds. There’s no justification for constructing buildings on a historic and widely used ground like BMCC’s,” Jain said.
He further added that the Youth Congress is willing to raise donations to support the institution’s infrastructure needs, provided the open ground is preserved. “We will not allow even an inch of the playground to be lost. If our demand is not accepted, we will mobilise a larger movement involving former students, citizens, and local communities. Legal action is also on the table,” added Jain.
The protest received strong support from former BMCC students and professionals, including chartered accountants, artists and athletes.
Meanwhile, Deepak Kale, Sub-Proceedings Officer, DES, Pune, said, "We appreciate the concerns raised and assure all stakeholders that the society’s planning is aligned with both educational and environmental responsibilities. We ensured that no damage would occur to the existing sports infrastructure during the construction. Special attention has been given to safeguard the area required for outdoor sports like cricket and football, based on standard rating guidelines. Furthermore, the responsibility of managing environmental impact, including the cutting of 26 trees, replantation, and care of new saplings, has been clearly addressed within the construction tender, in accordance with all regulatory norms."
