People living near Khadki railway station have demanded that the godowns being used for loading and unloading of cement be shifted somewhere else. The city based unit of Republican Party of India has also come forward to help the citizens and support the demand.

The activists have said that if the decision of shifting the godowns is not taken within a week, they will hold a rasta roko on Pune-Mumbai highway near the khadki station.

Speaking at the press conference on Tuesday, a city president of RPI Firoz Mulla, said,

Nearly 50,000 people living in the premises of khadki station are suffering due to cement dust. Around 400 trucks commute daily to the station to load-unload cement, which has made it risky for the residents to let their children on roads. Besides, senior citizens too find it difficult to cross the road.

Mulla further explained that despite having a word with the concerned authorities for the shifting of the cement godowns, they seem to be overlooking the matter. If this continues for more than a week, we will take necessary action against them.

We are fed with this now, if the decision is not taken as soon as possible, we will hold a rasta roko on national highway. The next step of protest will be rail roko. The railway authorities should shift cement godowns to some other place

he added.

It is really difficult for people to breathe freely due to cement ash at the Khadki railway station. And residents living in the near by areas have also started complaining about the same. One of the residents said,

The cement ash is causing respiratory problems like asthma, swelling and burning of eyes and even congestion of chest. Our homes are heaped with cement dust. Besides residential societies, there are schools in the nearby areas which are also facing similar problems.

He said that cement loading activities have gone up during last five years. It should be stopped immediately considering the health hazards.

Why the loading-unloading activities are being done at the Khadki station, if the railways have similar facility at the Pune station?” asked Parshuram Wadekar, an RPI leader

When asked about the same, an official from railway said that the issue will be discussed with the railway authority and the convenient decision will be taken, he said.