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Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Building Pune: PMC plans new processing plant to tackle city's textile, furniture waste
Struggling to tackle the large volumes of textile and furniture waste being dumped in open spaces across the city, the Pune civic body has decided to set up a first-of-its-kind waste processing plant to scientifically dispose of the discarded material. The processing plant will be set up in an area reserved for public purpose in Sus, Mahalunge or Bavdhan Budhruk, at a cost of Rs 13.03 crore, with Rs 66.08 crore set aside for its operation, repair and maintenance for the next 15 years, civic officials said. Around 2,400 tonnes of waste—segregated wet and dry waste is collected separately—is generated every day under the jurisdiction of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). 'Around 3 per cent of this is textile and furniture waste,' said Sandeep Kadam, in-charge of the solid waste management department. While textile waste includes clothes, mattresses, pillows, bags, etc, furniture waste includes the waste generated after property renovations. 'There is no facility to tackle this properly. It is either dumped by citizens in open spaces or water bodies, leading to blockage of drains, or dumped near processing plants,' Kadam added. With the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) raising concerns over such waste piling up near processing plants, the PMC decided to set up a processing plant exclusively for textile and furniture waste, Kadam said. The PMC has shortlisted Pune-based Green Pruthvi Solutions to set up the processing facility that can handle 75 tonnes of dry waste per day, said Kadam. 'The agency will examine the waste and sort it out for reuse, recycling, or energy generation. The textile waste can be used to make items like doormats, and that which cannot be used can be processed to prepare Refuse Derived Fuel to be used in furnaces by factories,' he added. The PMC has to commit to providing expenses for operations, repair and maintenance for 15 years, so it has been decided to add a budgetary provision for the processing plant every year, Kadam said. That Pune city was ranked the eighth cleanest city in the country for 2024, a jump of one position from 2023, is also playing on the minds of the authorities. 'Though the PMC improved its ranking by one position, the target is to be in the top three. One of the main reasons for low scoring is unprocessed legacy waste, and this will be tackled by setting new waste processing plants this year,' Prithviraj B P, Additional Municipal Commissioner, said. Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune. He writes on Infrastructure, Politics, Civic issues, Sustainable Development and related stuff. He is a trekker and a sports enthusiast. Ajay has written research articles on the Conservancy staff that created a nationwide impact in framing policy to improve the condition of workers handling waste. Ajay has been consistently writing on politics and infrastructure. He brought to light the lack of basic infrastructure of school and hospital in the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde even as two private helipads were developed by the leader who mostly commutes from Mumbai to Satara in helicopter. Ajay has been reporting on sustainable development initiatives that protects the environment while ensuring infrastructure development. ... Read More


Time of India
17 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
PMC to replace valves, carry out repairs of pipeline supplying water to Chandni Chowk overhead tank
1 2 Pune: Residents of Bavdhan, Pashan, Paud Road and some parts of Kothrud can expect relief from water cuts as the civic administration has taken steps to replace the valves and carry out repairs of the key supply line that brings water from Warje purification unit to Chandni Chowk overhead tank. This supply line developed leakages on two occasions in the last two months, which led to major disruptions in water supply in areas dependent on Chandni Chowk overhead tanks. The new valves are expected to reduce glitches and prevent water disruptions, an official from the water supply department of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) said. He said some technical faults had also been found that were hampering the flow of water in the pipeline. "Teams are working on it. The fault will also be rectified," the official said. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune The administration is planning to spend Rs 16.66 lakh on the valves and other immediate works. More funds would be made available as required, officials said. Residents of the affected areas said that the administration needs to expand the scope of work instead of just replacing the valves and washing the supply line. Ashish Sane, a resident of Pashan, said unequal distribution of water was a major problem. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like When the Camera Clicked at the Worst Possible Time Read More Undo "We want the administration to work on this issue, identify areas where water availability is less, and where the distribution network is weak," he said. Baner resident VS Kher said that some areas receive excess water. "The situation is not the same everywhere, as some pockets do not get adequate supply. There are variations in water pressure as well. All these problems pertain to lapses in the distribution network. It is good that PMC is improving the supply from the main line to overhead tanks, but it should also pay attention to water supply from overhead tanks to the distribution network," Kher said. Officials said that the deputy engineers would visit areas getting low-pressure supply. "We will also see if valve operators are following the water supply schedules," an official said. Supply issues persist: - Unequal distribution of water - Some areas receive water for more hours - Valve operators do not follow supply schedule properly - Low pressure is a common problem in many pockets


Time of India
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Pune city unit of MNS demands Marathi nameplates on properties before issuing occupancy certificates
Pune: The city unit of MNS has demanded that the civic administration should make it mandatory for housing societies and other non-residential properties to display nameplates in Marathi. The party members wrote a letter to Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), requesting it to make necessary provisions in building permission rules to effect the change. "Marathi has the classical language status, but many residential and commercial establishments do not have their names displayed in the local language. The administration should ensure that occupancy certificates are issued to buildings only after verifying that they have Marathi nameplates," said Prashant Kanojia, a member of the MNS city unit. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune The letter submitted by Kanojia stated that the PMC, while granting all currently processed permissions for new residential and non-residential buildings, as well as all future construction permissions, should ensure that the clause for Marathi nameplates was included in the contract. "A circular for this should be issued accordingly. The nameplates should be large in size and clearly visible," the letter read. "We will check govt directives pertaining to this demand and our role in it's implementation. Appropriate action will be taken accordingly," said Rajesh Bankar, a senior PMC official.


Time of India
21 hours ago
- Time of India
Residents want PMC to be proactive in tackling illegal hawkers
Pune: People have urged the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to remain vigilant and proactive in dealing with illegal hawkers who continue to occupy streets despite repeated actions and cause traffic issues. According to the civic data, Rs95 lakh have been collected in fines from nearly 8,000 roadside vendors in the last six months. Drives against unauthorised hawkers are welcome, but they should be carried out consistently, said Anil Patil from Kothrud. "Walking on the road has become a tough task for pedestrians. Not only hawkers, but also their customers are creating a nuisance," he said. Bavdhan resident Prasanna Balsare said a dedicated team should be set up for this purpose. "Many hawkers are repeat offenders; they come up again within a day or two after the action." You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune PMC officials said the exercises are frequently conducted at popular locations such as FC Road, Laxmi Road, J M Road, Sinhagad Road, and Wadgaonsheri. "Action is taken in association with local ward offices. PMC received many complaints about illegal hawkers and the nuisance caused by them," said Sandip Khalate, head of PMC's anti-encroachment department. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Hawkers said the much-talked-about hawker zones are not proving useful as the civic body has not done enough for their publicity and as a result, most of them fail to attract visitors. "Facilities related to the safety and security of hawkers and their businesses are missing," said Sanjay Shanke of Janeev Organisation, which works for hawkers. Sankhe said PMC should conduct a biometric survey of street vendors, distribute new certificates, and reduc their fees. Clean water supply, drainage lines, toilets, roofs for protection from the heat and rain, lighting, and CCTV cameras should be provided at the zones, hawkers said. Available data shows that there are around 22,000 authorised hawkers. PMC received 38,000 applications when a survey began around four years ago. The administration finalised 525 zones against a demand of 1,900 zones made by hawkers. Who are street vendors? The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, defines street vendor as a person engaged in vending articles, goods, wares, food items, or merchandise of everyday use or offering services to the general public, in a street, lane, sidewalk, footpath, pavement, public park, or any other public place or private area, from a temporary built-up structure or by moving from place to place. It includes hawker, peddler, squatter, and all other synonymous terms which may be local or region-specific; and the words "street vending" with their grammatical variations and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly. What action can be taken? The law aims to protect the right of vendors but they are liable for action if they flout norms. A fine is charged if a vendor is engaged in activities without a certificate of vending, contravenes the terms of the certificate of vending, or contravenes any other terms and conditions specified for the purpose of regulating street vending. The fine can be extended up to Rs 2,000 as may be determined by the local authority.


Time of India
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Commuters' suffering unabated as PMC fails to fix potholes, uneven drain covers
1 2 3 4 5 6 Pune: The endless travails of city commuters caused by potholes and shoddy road surfaces of various stretches never seem to end, regardless of the season. Many motorists have pointed out that despite the break in rainfall, road repairs have not gathered pace. Rohit Datar, a regular commuter on Ganeshkhind Road, told TOI, "Potholes are clearly visible on various roads. At University Chowk, which is always a busy junction, giant craters are slowing down vehicles." While Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has declared an assurance of finishing road repairs and filling potholes before Aug 20, commuters are not convinced. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Shukrawar Peth resident Ashok Kale said, "Ganesh mandals have already started preparations for pandals. Road repairs should be completed before Ganeshotsav." An official from PMC's road department claimed they have deployed vans for each ward for road repairs and resurfacing. "Deputy engineers attached to each area have been asked to visit key road stretches. The work will be expedited in the next few days," the official said. Another concern expressed by commuters is about the broken and uneven drainage chamber lids posing a risk to motorists — two-wheeler riders in particular. Bikers highlighted that many lids, despite repairs just a few days ago, have come loose as the cement-concrete used to affix them is of bad quality. An autorickshaw driver from the Pune railway station area, Chand Shaikh, said, "Drainage lids need to be fixed properly and at road level. The most problematic road stretches in this regard are Ganeshkhind Road, parts of Tilak Road, Bund Garden Road, Pune railway station area, and many stretches on the outskirts." A civic official told TOI, "For repairs of drainage chamber lids, the road and drainage departments are working in coordination." However, commuters are unhappy with the result. Prachi Gore, a Navi Peth resident who often uses Karve Road stretch to reach Deccan Gymkhana, said, "Almost all chamber lids from Garware College Chowk to Deccan are in bad condition. They are not fixed properly, uneven, or unstable. This poses a major risk to vehicles." Pune: The endless travails of city commuters caused by potholes and shoddy road surfaces of various stretches never seem to end, regardless of the season. Many motorists have pointed out that despite the break in rainfall, road repairs have not gathered pace. Rohit Datar, a regular commuter on Ganeshkhind Road, told TOI, "Potholes are clearly visible on various roads. At University Chowk, which is always a busy junction, giant craters are slowing down vehicles." While Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has declared an assurance of finishing road repairs and filling potholes before Aug 20, commuters are not convinced. Shukrawar Peth resident Ashok Kale said, "Ganesh mandals have already started preparations for pandals. Road repairs should be completed before Ganeshotsav." An official from PMC's road department claimed they have deployed vans for each ward for road repairs and resurfacing. "Deputy engineers attached to each area have been asked to visit key road stretches. The work will be expedited in the next few days," the official said. Another concern expressed by commuters is about the broken and uneven drainage chamber lids posing a risk to motorists — two-wheeler riders in particular. Bikers highlighted that many lids, despite repairs just a few days ago, have come loose as the cement-concrete used to affix them is of bad quality. An autorickshaw driver from the Pune railway station area, Chand Shaikh, said, "Drainage lids need to be fixed properly and at road level. The most problematic road stretches in this regard are Ganeshkhind Road, parts of Tilak Road, Bund Garden Road, Pune railway station area, and many stretches on the outskirts." A civic official told TOI, "For repairs of drainage chamber lids, the road and drainage departments are working in coordination." However, commuters are unhappy with the result. Prachi Gore, a Navi Peth resident who often uses Karve Road stretch to reach Deccan Gymkhana, said, "Almost all chamber lids from Garware College Chowk to Deccan are in bad condition. They are not fixed properly, uneven, or unstable. This poses a major risk to vehicles."