PMC’s hunt for garbage space gets hit by protest after protest

Shiv Sena MP Shivaji Adhalrao-Patil, who held a discussion regarding the site, said villagers do not want garbage there.

“We got PCMC to move out of the area and will not allow PMC to have the dumping site here,” said Patil.

PMC authorities are waiting for state government clearance for the site they selected from 85 sites — mostly unused quarries — proposed by the district administration.

“We found Moshi suitable. It is a government site. With population increasing and issues arising at Uruli Devachi and Phursungi, this will be an added option,” said a PMC officer.

PMC officials said the Hanjer garbage processing and recycling plant was not working to capacity, causing problems. About 1,600 tonne garbage is generated every day and if all these plants and sites work to full capacity, the issue can be sorted out, they said.

PMC has been looking for new sites to dump garbage ever since residents of Uruli Devachi and Phursungi — villages used for years to dump waste — objected. PMC’s plan at Moshi angered Moshi residents, who have been demanding PCMC to stop dumping waste there.

About 650 tonne solid waste is generated within PCMC jurisdiction daily.This waste is processed at a unit in Moshi. But, given the population explosion, the need for a new garbage depot was felt and Punawale off Katraj-Dehu Road bypass is being assessed to reduce the garbage burden on Moshi, officials said.

In the past, PMC had given the government Rs 2.62 crore for two sites required, but opposition from people stalled it. “There will be opposition everywhere but the government will have to take a call soon,” officials said.

Among government sites proposed by the collectorate, two are at Wadgaon Shinde, two at Wagholi and one at Hadapsar. The sites of private owners were at Dhanori (5 sites), Wadgaon Shinde (12), Wagholi (39), Loni Khand (25) and Wadgaon Dhairi (8). The sites will have to be filled after acquisition, which would take time, said civic officials. “Of these, most quarries are abandoned. Quarries near the airport cannot be used for dumping and can only be used after permission from Indian Air Force and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board,” said officials.

A deadline of December 31 has been set, following protests by Phursungi villagers and intervention of the CM, to shift the present dumping site. PMC has two new processing plants. “With more villages to be added to PMC limits, more sites will help in garbage processing,” an official said.