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Pune Residents Fight Toxic Waste Plant Plan
20 Oct
Summary
- Residents oppose a 27MW waste-to-energy plant in Ravet.
- Concerns include pollution, tree felling, and public health impacts.
- PCMC aims to decentralize waste processing due to a past landfill disaster.
Residents in Pune's Ravet and Nigdi Pradhikaran areas are mounting strong opposition to the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation's (PCMC) proposed 27MW waste-to-energy plant. They are demanding the project be scrapped and an alternative site identified, warning of large-scale protests if PCMC proceeds.
The civic body has requested 25 acres of MIDC land for the facility, which aims to process 1,000 metric tonnes of waste daily. This initiative is a response to the urgent need to decentralize waste processing, especially after a landfill collapse at the Moshi depot in July of this year tragically killed nine people.
However, local communities fear the plant's proximity to the Durga Devi Tekdi, a water treatment plant, and densely populated residential zones will lead to severe environmental degradation and health issues. Concerns include potential tree felling, emissions, dust, odor, and increased heavy vehicle traffic.
PCMC argues that the city's daily waste generation, currently around 1,500 metric tonnes, is projected to increase significantly over the next two decades, necessitating additional processing facilities. The proposal for the Ravet site is pending state government approval.
