Pune: Residents of Ravet and Kiwale have announced a protest on Independence Day against open garbage dumping near K Ville society, alleging that the growing waste pile is causing foul odour and health concerns.Residents said the dumping has increased over the past few days and repeated complaints to the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC)’s health department have failed to resolve the problem.A senior health department official acknowledged the problem and said temporary dumping was being carried out at several locations across the city following disruption in waste management after the July 8 Moshi waste depot incident, which had led to a complete shutdown of the dumping.“Although the depot was reopened, the approach road passing through the garbage mound remains unstable, slowing down the movement of waste vehicles. Rainfall has further affected operations,” the official said.He said waste had been temporarily dumped in the open near K Ville society as connectivity to the nearby waste transfer station had been affected by rain. “The officials concerned have been instructed to remove the waste on priority,” he said. The municipal corporation had identified open sites at various locations across the city for temporary dumping after Moshi depot was shut for dumping.Residents, however, said the problem has persisted for weeks. Vijay Takmoge, a resident, said the foul smell had spread across the society, including flats and the garden. “The situation has turned the area into a garbage dumping yard. We have not been able to open the windows of our flats for more than a month as the foul smell enters with the wind and rain,” he said.Takmoge also questioned the civic body’s compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, which prohibit open dumping and provide for penalties for violations.His wife Shilpa said, “I have been facing throat infections and other health problems because of the foul smell. Even with the windows closed, the smell spreads into the all parts of the house. The garbage has made our lives difficult.”Residents said they would peacefully demonstrate against the open dumping on Saturday.Sunil Pradhan, another resident, said they had already approached the Bombay high court against the existing waste transfer station and alleged that the civic body was now effectively creating another open dumping site next to it.“Many residents of the area and society are suffering from health problems, but even the PCMC’s medical department has failed to address the issue. Waste is being dumped along a 45m-wide road. We fail to understand how such things can happen in a so-called smart city,” he said.
