In a growing chorus of discontentment against the city’s civic issues, various social, public, and environmental organisations along with the general public have joined hands through various mediums to raise voice against the problems the city is dealing with in the name of development. Green Nagpur Group, a group formed to be a medium to voice citizens’ grievances, is organising a public protest rally on August 11 from Mahatma Gandhi Statue, Variety Square, Sitabuldi to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Statue, Near Reserve Bank of India. The rally will start at 10 am, and a large gathering of citizens along with individuals who have suffered loss during water-logging in city or have faced problems due to cement roads will also be actively participating in the rally, informed the organisers including Anasuya Kale Chhabrani, RJ Preeti, Shatayu Vijay, Jaideep Das, Ashutosh Dabholkar, Sharad Patil, and Sharad Paliwal during a press conference held at Patrakar Club of Nagpur on Thursday.

 

The protest is against construction of more cement roads in the city which are causing several problems to residents and commuters, and many have also suffered with serious injuries caused by road accidents on cement roads. The organisers expressed that they are not against the development of city but their concerns are about the badly planned and haphazard work being carried out across the city without any regard of public safety and environment, and even after frequent situations of waterlogging on streets and residential areas the administration has failed to take corrective measures.

 

The organisers also addressed that the civic administration should have taken overflowing of water but unfortunately the plannings are done after the city is devastated and citizens face losses. So they also demand proper drainage system so that the citizens do not have to face the nightmare of waterlogging crisis in future. The public protest is being organised with a message that the patience of public is long tested and disregard of public safety by the authorities are pushing people to take matters into their own hands. The organisers appeal citizens to join in the initiative and voice their opinions.