The Times of India          09.11.2013

New norms for disposal of garbage from cracker stalls

PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) may soon introduce new clauses in the contracts for firecracker stall owners to make them accountable for collection and disposal of garbage generated at their stalls.

"This year, some owners had set up their firecracker stalls near Mhatre bridge and did business for 10 days generating over 17 containers of garbage which the ward office had to collect and dispose of. There are many such locations in the city where crackers are sold," said an official of Warje Karvenagar ward office.

Citizens from nearby areas had complained about the mess. "We are collecting the garbage from these locations. The stall owners should be responsible for the disposal of the garbage," he said.

The official added that the ward office plans to introduce a new clause in the contract which will direct the stalls owners to take responsibility for the garbage collection and disposal. "The details have been forwarded to the civic administration for approval. They will be introduced in next year's contract for stall owners. We may also consider adding the clause of waste disposal charges in the contract," said the official.

The city generates nearly 1,300 tonne garbage every day and the quantity is going up with increase in the population. About 50 tonne of total garbage per day is collected during the festive season. Disposal of garbage is a burning issue due non-availability of disposal sites in the city. Currently, the city's garbage is being send to Urli-Phursungi for disposal.

The garbage segregation at source is a big problem in garbage disposal in the city. The PMC has started a zero garbage project to spread awareness about garbage segregation. PMC has involved non governmental organizations (NGO) and corporates in the project, this will spread the importance of garbage segregation at housing society level. They will also help in direct disposal and management of dry and wet garbage.