Garbage continues to raise a stink for PMC

Corporation’s plan to set up garbage processing plants in every ward, opposed by citizens, societies

Garbage is a major concern for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). The city produces 1700 tonnes of garbage everyday, out of which only 900 tonnes is treated at processing plants. So PMC has no option but to dump the remaining garbage at the depot at Uruli village. Uruli villagers been agitating for the last few years to shift the garbage depot from their village.

The Supreme Court (SC) has made it mandatory to segregate garbage at source, and the civic body has to process garbage by setting up garbage processing plants. Taking cognizance of SC’s directive, PMC has decided to set up garbage processing plants in every ward office, but citizens are opposing the construction of garbage processing plants. PMC has now decided to file police complaints against people opposing the setting up of garbage processing plants.

The SC has directed local bodies to set up their own garbage processing plants, and also appealed to societies to set up mini garbage processing plants. Very few societies have set up garbage processing plants. Some societies are opposing the setting up of garbage processing plants in the wards citing reasons like foul odour. PMC is finding it difficult to set up garbage processing plants in wards.

Mayor Jagtap said, “PMC decided to set up garbage processing plants on its own lands at 15 ward offices. But some societies are opposing the setting up of garbage processing plants in the wards by giving reasons like foul odour. If everybody gives such reasons of foul odour and opposes garbage processing plants in their society, how can PMC set up garbage processing plants in every ward? So PMC will file police complaints against these societies. We know this is a harsh step but we do not have any option. There are very few people who are opposing the setting up of garbage processing plants in the wards. We will take stronger steps against such persons like filing police complaints. PMC is also working on sensitising people about the garbage problem. We cannot keep dumping garbage at Uruli village depot. It’s our responsibility to process and treat all the garbage we produce. So there is no better option than setting up processing plants at ward level. It will save garbage transport expenditure and by setting up small scale garbage processing plants, we can easily process the garbage and make bio fertiliser, sericulture out of it.”

PMC Commissioner Kunal Kumar said, “According to orders of the Supreme Court, it is mandatory to segregate garbage at source. But to achieve 100 per cent segregation of garbage at source, we need people’s participation. PMC is giving concession in property tax to societies who set up garbage processing plants, but we got very low response from the societies. But these societies are opposing the setting up of garbage processing plants at wards by giving very flimsy reasons. There are few areas like Aundh, Ghole Road, Warje and Yerwada, where societies set up their own garbage processing plants. But mid areas of city and basically peth areas have not set up garbage processing plants. So PMC decided to set up garbage processing plants but few societies are opposing it. So the administration will file police complains against such societies. It is very hard to transport garbage of the entire city to one garbage processing plant. It creates traffic snarls, pollution and expenditure. So setting up small scale garbage processing plans at ward level is a good option as it saves transport and lowers PMC expenditure. We once again appeal to people to co-operate with the PMC in setting up of garbage processing plants. It is going to benefit all of us. Garbage processing at processing plants is very scientific and safe way, and does not have any disadvantages.”

“There is one more way to sensitise people. Local corporators have to make people understand the importance of garbage processing plants, rather than filing police complaints against them. It is very safe and scientific way, and does not create any health related problems. If local representatives tell people about the importance of garbage processing plants, people may agree,” said some corporators.

tushar.rupanavar@goldensparrow.com

Originally published on The Golden Sparrow