The Times of India         08.12.2010

PMC's garbage processing unit serious health threat

PUNE: The 87 industrial units in the Ramtekdi Industrial area have strongly objected to the garbage processing plant started two months ago by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). The units claim that the stink of the garbage not only affects employees in the industrial area but is also a serious health threat to nearby residents.

Spread over 150 acres near Hadapsar, the Ramtekdi Industrial area has engineering, food industry and liquor units. Addressing a news conference here on Tuesday, Pramod Dabir, chairman of the Ramtekdi industrial association said, "G Corp Properties Pvt Ltd, a construction company, holds a 16-acre plot in the industrial area. Twenty five per cent of the land was handed over to the PMC for amenities. It was expected that the land would be utilised for a garden, but it was suddenly selected as the place to set up a garbage processing unit which processes 80 tonnes to 100 tonnes of garbage every day."

He wondered how the PMC could use this land for a garbage processing unit as the entire area was surrounded by various industrial units. He said that G Corp had intended to develop the remaining plot into a residential complex but the garbage processing unit had halted the plan. "A secondary school and junior college is also situated nearby and it is also affected by the stinking garbage. Though the garbage is processed, it spreads a stink during the process," he said.

"A joint venture between German and Japanese counterpartsEagleBurgmann India Pvt Ltd, which manufactures auto components, has postponed its expansion plans due to the garbage unit. The Japanese parent company, Eagle Industries, of EagleBurgmann has bought a separate plot in the same industrial unit to set up its plant. Eagle Industries has a worldwide tie-up with Suzuki Motors to supply automobile parts to the latter," said J M Panthaki, managing director of EagleBurgmann India Pvt Ltd, who was present at the news conference.

He said, "The same is the case with the expansion of EagleBurgmann India, which has also bought a 50,000 sq ft flat." Anand Halkunde, local corporator of the Nationalist Congress Party said, "The garbage processing unit was sanctioned by the standing committee. A couple of corporators from Hadapsar area opposed the plant, but the majority voted in its favour. The plant was set up in September."