5 days Ago
Pune: Over 200 residents from more than 35 housing societies across Sopanbaug, Udaybaug, BT Kawade Road, Hadapsar and Ghorpadi areas held a protest on Sunday against the foul smell and pollution emanating from the garbage processing plant in Hadapsar. The plant, operated by Pune Municipal Corporation , has been a problem for people in the area for years, the protesters said. Close by is another trash processing unit that's run by the Pune Cantonment Board.
Both units have been responsible for much of the air pollution and general lack of hygiene in the area, the residents said. "It has become very difficult to live here," said Govind Bhagchandani, a resident of Udaybaug. "There's always a foul smell from the garbage plant and we are facing significant risks to health.
We're being taxed but in return, are not getting the required amenities for our well-being," Bhagchandani said. Those at the protest on Sunday, which was organized by the Residents' Forum of Udaybaug, Sopanbaug and Ghorpadi, demanded the two units be shifted as soon as possible from their current site. Many who were part of the demonstration also said they have experienced respiratory and other health issues, including asthma, severe cough and even heart ailments.
"Respiratory illnesses among people who live here have risen manifold. But all our demands seem to have fallen on deaf ears. We are urging candidates contesting in the assembly polls to look into the problem and shift the plant, if they want our votes," said Anirodha Mishra, a member of the residents' forum.
The protesters also blamed PMC and PCB for ignoring the problem. "All the development in the area happened based on plans approved by these civic bodies. It's then time they corrected these errors.
This is a matter of grave concern," Mishra said. The Hadapsar garbage plant is one of the biggest such units in Pune city. In 2021, officials said that nearly 200-250 tonnes of waste, from all over the city, was being brought to the site for processing.
For years, residents have been demanding the plant be moved away from populated areas. Three years ago, PMC officials said the smell was not from their plant, but from the nearby PCB wet-waste unit. At the time, they had promised to look into the matter and resolve it.
.
