Pune: In a unique form of protest, residents of 32 merged villages in the Pune district have publicly declared their villages "for sale" by putting up banners across key areas.

This bold move has sparked significant discussion and concern throughout the city, as villagers express their frustration with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).

The banners, prominently displayed in Dhayari, Narhe, Ambegaon, Kirkatwadi, Nandoshi, Khadakwasla, Nanded, Uttam Nagar, Shivane, Kondhwe, and Kopre, all carry the same message: the residents can no longer bear the oppressive taxes imposed by the PMC.

Despite being incorporated into the jurisdiction of the Pune Municipal Corporation, these villages have seen little to no development in return.

According to the villagers, the PMC continues to charge high taxes but fails to deliver on basic services such as infrastructure, sanitation, and road maintenance.

"We cannot afford to pay the PMC's unreasonable taxes," reads the banners, a sentiment echoed by many villagers. Their demand is simple yet desperate: if they are unable to bear the financial burden of the taxes, the PMC should buy their villages. This unusual protest has shed light on the widening rift between the rural communities and the urban governance of Pune.

Residents have expressed their deep dissatisfaction, stating that while they comply with tax requirements, the lack of any development or improvement in their localities has pushed them to this extreme step.

“We are not receiving any services or infrastructure upgrades, yet the taxes keep rising. How are we supposed to survive?” said one local villager, capturing the essence of the collective frustration.

A local committee representing the 32 villages has also issued a warning: if the PMC does not take immediate steps to address their grievances, the protest will escalate further. Villagers have emphasized that this is not an empty threat; they are prepared to intensify their actions unless concrete changes are made.