Pune: The Municipal Corporation’s landfilling practices at the garbage depot in Devachi Uruli-Fursungi have come under scrutiny due to growing concerns over space constraints and unprocessed waste accumulation. With scientific landfilling underway, the Solid Waste Management Department faces mounting pressure to address the impending issue of unprocessed waste, commonly referred to as ‘reject.’ Despite directives from the municipal commissioner to explore processing alternatives for this ‘reject’, the department has proceeded with the tender process for scientific landfilling, exacerbating the problem.
The waste collected in the city, including cloth, mattresses, pillows, glass, and porcelain items, is being deposited in the landfill site at Uruli Devachi for scientific landfilling. Although this method has been implemented since November 2020, recent inspections by the municipal commissioner have revealed inadequacies in waste processing. Instead of processing items such as cloth and mattresses, they have been unceremoniously dumped in the landfill, prompting further investigation into alternative waste management strategies.
In a bid to address the issue of reject accumulation, the Solid Waste Management Department has initiated a tender for scientific landfilling, utilising space cleared by biomining at the NGT-ordered site. However, this approach risks exacerbating the ‘reject’ waste problem rather than resolving it, a concern that has been conveniently overlooked by authorities.
Sandeep Kadam, Head of the Solid Waste Management Department, acknowledged the ongoing tender process for landfilling and reassured efforts to explore alternatives for waste processing. However, until viable solutions are identified, scientific landfilling remains the interim strategy to mitigate the ‘reject’ waste issue.
Moreover, the contamination of water sources due to leachate from the decomposing garbage further underscores the urgency of addressing waste management practices. While measures such as the installation of a RO plant have been implemented to process leachate, concerns arise regarding its effective management. Reports indicate that leachate, collected in a well, is being sprayed back onto the landfill, raising questions about the adequacy of treatment measures and contractor accountability.
In response to lapses in waste management practices, the municipal commissioner has issued a show-cause notice to concerned officials and proposed action against the contractor responsible for negligence. Municipal authorities are now tasked with rectifying shortcomings in waste management protocols to ensure the sustainable and responsible disposal of waste in Devachi Uruli-Fursungi.
