The Crumbling Wadas of Pune

Wada, originally uploaded by deshpande.devidas.

Pune is known for its wadas. These are structures housing many families under the same roof. But with the passage of time, these wadas have become as old as the city itself. There are many wadas in the city which date back to Peshwa era.

Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had tried to ascertain the 'structural stability' of wadas in old parts of the city. But it has not brought much change. Especially in the rainy season, many old wadas crumble under the onslaught of nature.

Following incidents of wada collapses due to heavy rains last year, the PMC had invited applications from engineers to be part of a panel to inspect the stability of the wadas and decide whether they needed to be pulled down.