The fringe areas of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad see maximum incidents of garbage burning. Most of the residents have complained that people tend to burn garbage after midnight. The latest incident was in the open plot behind Bravura Co-op Housing Society at Dhankawdi where fire raged with stench of burning rubber. By the time it was reported, and visited by the PMC it was too late.
According to Sheila Christian, founder of National Society for Clean Cities (NSCC), “The most prevalent areas where garbage is burnt on a daily basis are most of the fringe areas. Most of the complaints that we get via social media are from residebnts in Kharadi, Dhanori and Hinjawadi. There are still several garbage burning sites in areas within PMC like Kondhwa, NIBM road as well as Baner and Balewadi. Though the PMC has taken in the fringe villages, they have not been able to start the garbage collection system properly.”
Abhijeet R, resident of Blue Ridge society, Hinjewadi, said, “Recently, garbage dumped on the riverbed was set on fire and it was burning for three consecutive days. The black smoke and stench of burning plastic was making it difficult for residents to breathe. We emailed the Maharashtra pollution control board and sought help from the police station and fire fighters, but they refused to help us saying it was not under their jurisdiction.”
If this was not enough, residents in Kharadi face a bigger problem. Even before this area was part of PMC, the local corporator run tempo collected mixed garbage and then it is burnt even before it is sent to Urali Kanchan. “Several times garbage is dumped into open plot and burnt by private people and despite attempts to complain, it is impossible to catch them in action,” said Sheila Christian, who has several times called the fire brigade on getting calls from Kharadi.
{{/usCountry}}If this was not enough, residents in Kharadi face a bigger problem. Even before this area was part of PMC, the local corporator run tempo collected mixed garbage and then it is burnt even before it is sent to Urali Kanchan. “Several times garbage is dumped into open plot and burnt by private people and despite attempts to complain, it is impossible to catch them in action,” said Sheila Christian, who has several times called the fire brigade on getting calls from Kharadi.
{{/usCountry}}Burning of garbage is prelevant too on NIBM road too with people using the forests to dispose the plastics and unwanted garbage is then burnt which also affect the trees.