Forest land to ease civic body’s garbage headache

In the meeting,the forest officials showed readiness to give a small of portion of forest land for vermicomposting.

“The civic administration requested us to make some land available around the city for dumping the organic wet garbage and process it as well. We have immediately given them an in-principle approval and also asked them to submit a proposal to this effect,” Chief Conservator of Forest (Pune circle ) Shirish Asthana,who also attended the meeting,said.

“We have forest land available around Pune on a large-scale,and we have agreed to give the land once the site is finalised by the PMC. We will move the proposal before the central government for approval,” Asthana said,adding,that they have already approved a chunk of land in Punawale for a similar project in Pimpri-Chinchwad.

The waste that would be dumped in the forestland could then be transformed into vermicompost at the same place. “We will use this vermicompost for trees in our forest. If this works out,the model could also be replicated in other parts of the state,” Asthana said.

Additional Municipal Commissioner M S Devnikar said a meeting was held with the forest authorities to discuss issues related to garbage,but refused to comment further.

At Punawale,the PCMC is getting 22-hectare tract of forest land for a similar exercise,which is facing a stiff opposition from the locals.

The civic administration is now compelled to find a solution within next seven months following agitation by villagers of Uruli Devachi and Phursungi where it dumps over 1,000 tonnes of garbage every day.