Pune: The Pune municipal corporation has collected fines worth Rs46.5 lakh from 256 people for dumping construction and demolition (C&D) waste in public instead of designated spaces this year.Civic officials said the administration has set up dedicated facilities for transporting C&D waste. “The PMC has urged people to use the transport facility. Defaulters will be subjected to penalties, and this drive will continue in the days to come,” said Santosh Warule, head of PMC’s solid waste management department. Residents too have raised concerns open dumping, flagging it as an eyesore and a health hazard, and have demanded tighter monitoring by the PMC to stop it.Civic data reveals that Pune generates roughly 250 metric tonnes (mt) of C&D waste daily. To manage this, civic officials have drafted a Detailed Project Report (DPR) assessing the volume, quality, and sources of the debris, following consultations with key stakeholders.The district administration has already handed over two acres of land in Wagholi, where a processing plant with a daily capacity of 250mt has been established. This facility recycles collected waste into reusable building materials, including blocks and aggregates. To streamline collection, PMC plans to open 10 dedicated collection centres across the city, equipped with security personnel and manpower. According to officials, major C&D waste generators in the city include various PMC departments, utility providers such as gas and telecom companies, and private real estate developers.Meanwhile, a group of elected representatives has urged PMC to introduce a cash reward scheme for citizens reporting illegal debris dumping in public spaces and riverbeds. According to the proposal submittes, informants should receive Rs 5,000 for every valid lead shared. The proposal further suggests that the reward pool be funded directly through the fines collected from violators.“Water stagnates around this waste, especially during the rainy season, leading to mosquito breeding and disease. The administration must take strict action against defaulters,” said Shantanu Gosavi, a resident of Kothrud.According to residents, such dumping is widespread in areas witnessing large-scale redevelopment projects. They suggested that the administration deploy special night squads to catch violators.A toll-free helpline (18002339595) has been set up for C&D waste-related enquiries and transport requests.
