NMC again refuses to treat Trimbak waste

NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) rejected the proposal of the Trimbakeshwar Municipal Council to treat waste produced from various religious functions at its compost plant. Corporators cutting across political parties opposed the proposal during the NMC's general body meeting on Thursday.
Based on the May 15 orders of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Western Zone, Pune, the Trimbakeshwar Municipal Council had put up a proposal for treatment of the waste generated through various religious programmes at the NMC's compost plant in the city.Around two tonnes of waste is generated per day in Trimbakeshwar.
Environment activists had sought the NGT's intervention in preventing pollution of the Godavari and removing the concrete slabs on the river to facilitate its free flow. During the hearings, the applicant of the petition, Lalita Shinde, pointed out that the nirmalya and other used puja material were dumped in the river, adding to the pollution. With limited space for treating the municipal solid waste, the TMC had proposed a discussion with the NMC for treating its nirmalya and other material generated from religious ceremonies.
The Trimbakeshwar civic body was ready to bear the expenses of transporting and treating the waste. With leaders from the ruling and opposition benches opposing the proposal, city mayor Yatin Wagh assured the house, "The proposal of Trimbakeshwar municipal council for treatment of religious waste at the NMC's compost plant is being rejected."
During the discussion, MNS corporator Sudam Kombade said that the condition of the compost plant of the municipal corporation is not so good and most of the machineries is defunct. "At this juncture, bringing waste from Trimbakeshwar for treatment will create more issues and add to the burden on the plant," he said, adding "If we give permission to Trimbakeshwar for treating waste at the compost plant, then other nearby municipal councils will also turn to the NMC for waste treatment."
RPI (A) corporator Praksh Londhe pointed out that the Trimbak municipal council had submitted the same proposal in the past and it was rejected.