Sukhmani Kooner, Pune
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) took quick steps against the dumping of waste along the green belt situated near Karvenagar. PMC conducted a cleaning drive for the extraction of debris in the riverbed a month ago. However, despite its efforts, Gajanan Vitthal Pawar was caught dumping 30 trucks of debris on the land owned by him, near the river bed of the Mula-Mutha.
PMC has issued a notice to Pawar and has instructed him to pay a fine of Rs. 7.5 lakhs. The Additional Municipal Commissioner, Prithviraj B P, took immediate and stringent steps to tackle the issue. He ordered the Regional Ward Officer of Warje Karve Nagar to take appropriate action. Following this, the regional office fined Pawar with Rs. 25,000 per truck of debris dumped. This amount summed up to Rs. 7.5 lakh which he was instructed to pay within 24 hours of the issue of notice.
Under anonymity, a PMC official told Hindustan Times, “The debris was dumped at survey number A/1 in front of Amrut Kalash Society on D P Road, Karve Nagar. The land is owned by Pawar but the debris entered the river.”
The larger impact of this act of dumping debris near the riverbed directly translates into violation of the Solid Waste Management Act. The debris dumped on private land eventually flowed into the river, leaving it polluted. The solid waste management rules of 2016 state that waste generators cannot throw, burn, or bury solid waste in public spaces, drains, or water bodies.
When improperly managed garbage finds its way into rivers, it can lead to a variety of issues. Aquatic waste contaminates outdoor areas that we rely on for enjoyment and tourism, deteriorates the quality of the water, and puts plants and animals in danger. Just this July, Pune was flooded due to incessant rains and the release of waterfront the Khadakwasla Dam. Mainly two localities, Sinhagad Road and Ekta Nagri, faced the worst aftermath. The floods brought out the issue of illegal dumping of debris on the riverbed of the Mula-Mutha which was one of the causes of extreme floods in these areas.