The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has intensified efforts to tackle the detrimental practice of garbage burning, filing more than 1,700 cases and imposing fines totaling Rs 9.8 lakh on offenders from April last year to February this year.
Sandip Kadam, Head of PMC’s Solid Waste Management department, emphasized the deployment of flying squads to ramp up enforcement against waste burning, with targeted operations conducted at the ward office levels.
The initiative follows numerous complaints received by PMC, triggering action under the solid waste management guidelines ratified in 2016. Repeat offenders face stringent penalties, including criminal prosecution.
Expressing concern over the persistent issue, Divest Agarwal, a resident of Kalyani Nagar, remarked, “They keep burning the garbage now and then, posing hazards to residents and the environment. Immediate action should be taken without citizens having to lodge complaints. It’s particularly dangerous for children. This problem has persisted for years, resurfacing every few months.”
Despite an initial surge in enforcement preceding the G20 summit in January 2023, subsequent months witnessed a lull in momentum. However, PMC officials have assured the public of a renewed drive since December last year.
Activists and citizens advocate for unwavering commitment from PMC, citing the environmental risks associated with garbage burning.
Environmentalists caution that burning various materials like plastic, glass, metal, and rubber releases harmful compounds and particulates, including carbon monoxide, carcinogenic hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and formaldehyde. With Pune generating nearly 1600 metric tonnes of garbage daily, including 15% plastic waste, the urgency for sustained action against burning practices is paramount.
