Pune children struggle to find soil for Diwali forts; PMC asked to set up distribution centres

The tradition of building small mud forts at Diwali in Pune is facing a hurdle this year. Many people in the city are unable to find soil for it. Raising these complaints from citizens and parents, Prashant Kanojia, state chief coordinator of the Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNVS) and a member of the Kothrud Citizens Forum, has asked the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to arrange for soil to be available in the area of every ward office.

During the Diwali holidays, children across the city build mud forts, often with help from adults. The practice carries the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the importance of forts and the inspiration of Swarajya to the new generation. Kanojia said the soil needed for this is simply not easily available this time.

According to him, the matter of soil is not just about buying and selling. It is tied to the city's cultural and historical traditions. He said the administration should take it seriously and plan in advance so that children can get the material to build forts.

Kanojia suggested that the PMC set up an official soil distribution centre in the area of each ward office. The soil should be given to schools, mandals and children free or at a nominal price. He also said information on the locations of these centres should be made available to the public.

He also pointed out that many development projects and construction works are under way in the city. His proposal is that the clean surplus soil from these sites be collected without harming the environment and made available to citizens. He also stressed that the distribution plan should be drawn up before Diwali and complete details announced in advance.

His demands, in brief, are: an official soil distribution centre in the area of every ward office; eco-friendly collection of clean surplus soil from construction sites; soil for schools, mandals and children free or at a nominal price; and a distribution plan before Diwali, with publicity for the details.

"It is unfortunate that, despite such large development projects and construction in the city, children cannot get even a handful of soil to build Shivaji Maharaj's forts."

Kanojia also said, "To instil the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the spirit of Swarajya in the new generation, it is necessary to strengthen this tradition."