Mundhwa and Digraswadi Municipal Corporation proposes to cap Urali Devachi site and move on
Mundhwa and Digraswadi could become the new garbage dumping sites for Pune city. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has shortlisted them as alternative sites to replace Urali Devachi,which it hopes to cap in a one years time.
The upcoming area of Mundhwa,chosen for many future urban infrastructure projects,is around 6 km from the city while Digraswadi is in Shirur taluka,about 30 km away.
Following an agitation by villagers of Urali Devachi,Principal Secretary of Environment Valsa Nair had asked the PMC to cap the site and suggest,within 15 days,an alternative. The PMC submitted the plan to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) on Monday. The MPCB will have to ensure that the plan is implemented in the timeframe, Nair said.
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MPCB regional officer P K Mirashe said the old site of 43 hectares will be capped. However,the site at Phursungi adjacent to the old site will be in use. Besides the Mundhwa and Digraswadi sites,13 more locations in the district are being assessed as garbage treatment sites, said Mirashe.
According to the plan submitted,the PMC will take precautionary measures while caping he site. The area will get a proper effluent treatment system and be sprayed with chemicals to ensure an insect-free environment. The plan also mentions tackling of frequent fires by parking two fire engines at the site. An RCC water tank and water tankers will be deployed daily,said Mirashe.
The plan also involves use of enclosed vehicles instead of bulk refuse carriers. The problems of Urali Devachi residents will be resolved in a years time, said Mirashe.
The residents were relieved to hear about the closure of the old site but were upset at the Phursungi plan. We plan to meet the district collector on May 2. Even if they have decided to cap the old site,the adjacent site in Phursungi spans 120 hectares, said Sanjay Harpale,deputy sarpanch of the village.
Former sarpanch Tatya Adhale said they might intensify their agitation after the May 2 meeting.
We dont want the garbage dumping site in our area. We have been facing a lot of problems, he said.
Additional Municipal Commissioner M Devnikar said they have suggested other dumping sites and treatment plants will be installed after inspection by a committee.
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