PMC in fix over garbage depots

PUNE, March 25: The Pune Municipal Corporation PMC is faced with a piquant situation. The State Government has directed the civic body ...

PUNE, March 25: The Pune Municipal Corporation PMC is faced with a piquant situation. The State Government has directed the civic body to take possession of the three alternate sites at Mhatobachi Alandi, Wadgaon Shinde and Yevlewadi to dispose off the city8217;s garbage. But a reluctant administration is examining its feasibility owing to the long distance of the proposed garbage depots.

While there has been a pending demand to shift the garbage depot at Kothrud to alternate locations due to the health hazard posed to residents of the area, the civic administration has yet to decide on the issue. While officials said that the garbage depot at Kothrud would not be shut down, there would be a phase-wise reduction in dumping garbage at the site.

A total of ten sites had been suggested to dispose off the city8217;s garbage out of which the PMC has been directed to take possession of three located at the outskirts of the city. It may be recalled that after several agitations conducted by the people and Patit Pawan Sanghatana, the Chief Minister had directed the Collector to take advance possession of the sites.

The District Collectorate had in a letter dated March 10 written to the Pune Municipal Commissioner to take possession of the three alternate sites to dispose off the garbage. While the PMC officials said that they received the letter late yesterday evening, a decision regarding the issue will be taken on Friday, Assistant Municipal Commissioner Special Arun Pardeshi told media persons.

The administration has expressed its reluctance in making trips to far-off sites as this would limit the amount of garbage to be disposed off. They are toying with the possibility of submitting a proposal to the Government to, acquire the nearby Wadgaon Budruk location to dispose off the garbage. According to the letter, the PMC has been directed to acquire 28 hectares at Mhatobachi Alandi, 109 hectares at Wadgaon Shinde and eight hectares at Yevlewadi.

The other locations to dispose off garbage include Lohegaon, Wadgaon Budruk, Pisoli, Katraj, Ambegaon Jambulwadi and Kolewadi. According to the officials, presently at least five-six trips are made by trucks which lift the garbage and dispose it at the depots at Kothrud and Urali Devachi. As the proposed sites are located at the city8217;s outskirts, it may not be practically feasible to make more than one trip to dump the garbage, officials feel.

Even as the meeting with the Commissioner Girish Pradhan will be held on Friday to sort out the issue, the Patit Pawan Sanghatana has threatened to block the garbage trucks if the PMC did not take possession of the three sites.