05 March,2014 06:30 AM IST | | A Correspondent
Civic body says since election code of conduct would be in force from today, the matter can be taken up only after the polls
Citing the imminent election code of conduct that comes into effect today, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), with the help of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, has succeeded in postponing the garbage issue for two months, i.e., till the Lok Sabha elections get over.
Dirty picture: Garbage strewn in Mandai area. File Pic
Yesterday morning, Pawar conducted a meeting with the civic administration and residents of Uruli Devachi village, where PMC has its garbage depot, to reach a permanent solution over waste management in the city. Over the past month, the villagers have conducted regular protest, preventing PMC vehicles from entering and dumping garbage in the depot, resulting in overflowing waste containers in the city.
To resolve this issue, Pawar had taken the initiative and started a discussion between the civic administration and villagers last month. However, the second meeting too concluded yesterday without any permanent solution in sight.
Speaking to mid-day, Shiv Sena MLA Vijay Shivtare said, "Since the last 22 years, PMC has been dumping waste of the entire city in Uruli and Frusungi. Every time the civic body asked for 4-6 months of time to arrive at a solution. But, till date, nothing has happened. Decentralisation of waste disposal and establishing garbage treatment plants in other parts of the city are the only solutions."
"We are allowing PMC's garbage vehicles in to depot only because Sharad Pawar has intervened in it. But PMC shouldn't allow open dumping in the depot. Rather civic administration should start a search for other sites," said Vijay Bhadale, vice-president of Garbage Depot Removal Committee.
Mayor at meeting
Along with PMC officials, Mayor Chanchala Kodre too was present for the meeting. The administration has presented a long-term plan of six months to three years for building separate waste treatment plants in the city. However, the mayor clarified that this plan can be processed only after the elections and appealed the villagers to allow PMC to treat waste in the Uruli Devachi garbage depot.
