Quarries can serve as dumps

Prabhakar Dandavate,president, Ramakrishna Paramhansnagar Kruti Samiti, KothrudFor more than 15 years, we had been fighting to shift th...

Prabhakar Dandavate,
president, Ramakrishna Paramhansnagar Kruti Samiti, Kothrud
8220;For more than 15 years, we had been fighting to shift the garbage depot from Kothrud. Only last week, the Pune Municipal Corporation stopped dumping the entire city8217;s garbage at the depot. When it was there it made our lives miserable. Even now the garbage stinks. But we never thought the depot would shift elsewhere in our life times. A few days ago we had to turn back a truck that arrived to dump the garbage.

But going back to the root, the very direction of the garbage depot was wrong. The dumping was not scientifically managed. In 1983, I sent proposals to the PMC about the shifting. For over six years, I spread awareness about the issue to the people in this area because it affected us all. I ran from pillar to post, from the PMC to various government officials to move the depot.

In 1987, some accidents happened. Some small children in the depot8217;s vicinity were run over by the garbage trucks. This was the turning point in the agitation of the Samiti. With help from my colleagues, P K Kulkarni, V Y Kotwal and R K Shende, it acquired some direction. We intensified our demand with the PMC for moving the depot. The PMC did not realise the intensity of the harm the depot was doing.

Moreover, it granted permission for residential complexes. Colonies like the Lokmanyanagar Colony and Krishna Colony sprang up quite close to the depot. Slums have mushroomed around the fringe.

Also, our agitation made other areas conscious about the health hazards and harm and they refused to let the depot in their area. So, the depot was stuck in Kothrud. In 1988, we went to the court, as a last resort. One decision was in our favour while the PMC won the case in the district court. Now, the matter is pending in the High Court. We also suggested that the garbage be dumped in unused quarries like the one at Tinpatwadi near Kalas.

Today, even after the depot has shifted, the stink is unbearable and there are thousands of flies. We will have to bare it for a while. But thanks to Municipal Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad, there is no dumping. He has also promised to spread murrum and mud after a month. We have suggested that a medicinal plantation should come up here eventually. Hopefully, we will have fresher air to breathe in the coming months.