Indian Express 17.12.2009
New garbage dumps: file stuck at Mantralaya, Principal Secy
Despite assurances for the past seven months, the government is yet to clear the five garbage dumping sites for Pune. Angry over this, the residents of Uruli and Phursungi have warned of another agitation and said that from January 1 they will not allow garbage to be dumped in this area.
Principal Secretary (environment) Valsa Nair said that the file is pending at the mantralaya for clearance. “We will speed up the matter. There are four to five alternative sites. But we would not like to disclose their names as it could lead to protests,” she said.
When apprised of the situation, she said that extension was sought so that alternative locations could be readied and notice was issued to the operator for not expediting the scientific processing. “However, we will have to wait until the government clears it,” she said.
District collector Chandrakant Dalvi who held a meeting with the residents said that they have already sent the list of alternative locations.
Meanwhile, Phursungi deputy sarpanch Sanjay Harpale said they want a written assurance from the administration on the date of capping as well as shifting of the depot.
“If the government does not want to disclose the list, they should at least give us in writing when the garbage dumping in our villages will cease. The company taking up garbage processing, too is not doing it work. We have given them 15 days and from January 1, we will not allow the trucks to ferry garbage to our area,” he said.
The villagers have been agitating for seven months, but with little result. In May this year they had launched an agitation wherein all garbage dumpers were prevented from going to the depot. The agitation continued for 12 days which resulted in accumulation of garbage all over the city. A meeting was convened on May 14 in which various issues related to garbage disposal and development works in the villages had been chalked out.
