Pune generates nearly 1,300 tonne garbage everyday and the quantity is growing day by day as the population is increasing. The city is facing a serious problem of garbage disposal. At first Kothrud garbage depot was made functional in 1965.In 1999, the depot was closed down and shifted to Uruli Devachi and Phursungi after residents and social workers protested against its functioning. This was again shut down in June 2010 following agitation by villagers and claims of water pollution and unhygienic conditions affecting people’s health and local industry and agriculture. It was then suggested that the facilities for the disposal of solid waste had to be created within in the limits of the municipal corporation or council concerned. Now PMC has two vermicompost plants at Ramtekdi and Hadapsar and 16 bio-gas plants spread across the city.
This plant is also facing stiff opposition from 87 industrial units. On the other hand, the civic body claims to have its hands tied as a Supreme Court order makes it mandatory that the citys garbage should be processed within city limits and nobody is willing to let garbage processing plant function in their vicinity.
The plant currently processes 80-100 tonnes of garbage a day. The stench from the unit affects employees in the industrial belt, apart from nearby residents. This garbage processing unit is more hazardous during monsoon as mosquitoes breed here, which can lead to a major outbreak of diseases like dengue or malaria. In case of heavy rains, the garbage even flows out creating another nuisance.
According to civic body, nobody wants garbage disposal and processing project in their area. Whenever there is talk of garbage disposal in any area, residents oppose it. This way, the citizens will suffer. Before complaining about something, they should also think about the consequences of their actions. If people have problems with something, they should also give us some logical alternative. If the plant stops functioning, the entire city will stink.
So far as the stench from the current plant is concerned, PMC has directed Disha Waste Management to spray Odofresh around the plant so that people are not inconvenienced.
It’s mandatory to process garbage within city limits and citizens do not want the plant in their vicinity. Would garbage disposal problem remain unsolved?
