Hinjawadi: Illegal garbage dumping pose threat to residents health, online campaign launched

Sumit Singh

Pune, July 1, 2020: Due to illegal garbage dumping area in Maan Gram Panchayat and Hinjawadi phase 3, the lives of hundreds of residents is at stake. People complained that they are struggling with wild pigs, dogs, snakes and foul smell.

There has been a rapid increase in the population of Hinjawadi and Maan Gram Panchayat. However, they have not kept make arrangements for waste collection and processing. Thus, many contractors dump the garbage on open plots and burn them. The residents have complained many times but in vain.

Gokul Ojha, president of TCG society, told Punekarnews.in, “Garbage is being dumped illegally near our society boundary wall. People and children are all at home due to the Coronavirus epidemic. But due to foul smell emanating from the garbage, it has become difficult to live inside the flats.”

Another resident from added, “Pigs and dogs often come to the spot. Its epidemic time and authorities should be more careful about hygiene.”

When contacted, Pune Zilla Parishad CEO Ayush Prasad said, “We have received complaints regarding garbage dumping by contractors on open spaces in Hinjawadi and Maan. The Gram Panchayats have been instructed to take necessary against those who are doing this.”

He added, “Due to the rapid increase in the population, Gram Panchayat has not kept pace with garbage collection and processing. It has gone beyond their capacity. They have appointed contractors for waste collection and processing. The land availability for waste disposal and processing is also an issue. Soon a policy will be framed for the land.”

Meanwhile, Sanjay Baviskar has launched a campaign on Change.org against illegal dumping and burning of garbage in the small hillock of Hinjewadi IT park area causing a strong stench and unbearable smoke which could be a severe health hazard for the people living around.

The petition states, “The garbage is being dumped illegally and the same is being set on fire in small and huge amounts by unknown people in the early morning and late-night hours. The garbage dump produces an extremely foul smell, due to which all residents are facing hazardous health issues.

To address the issue a citizens group was formed by the Rajiv Gandhi IT Park Residents Welfare Association to launch online petitions for the same. The matter was brought to notice of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, Maharashtra Pollution Control board, The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation and the Gram Panchayat of Maan Village. However, no action was taken by any of the government organizations and this critical matter still remains unattended.

✓ Illegal dumping of huge amounts of Garbage in open areas of the hillock in Hinjewadi, Phase 3.
✓ Raw, unprocessed and untreated garbage from residential and commercial activities is being dumped in the area.
✓ Burning of this garbage by unknown people during the night which creates toxic smoke
✓ This is posing serious damage to the environment and the air quality of the area is being deteriorated.
✓ The black smoke and stench of burning Garbage are making it difficult for residents to breathe and there are complaining of respiratory problems.
✓ The strong stench on the surrounding areas is causing severe trouble for people living in the Residential properties and those working in the IT Park.
✓ The garbage dump has become home to stray dogs, rodents, mosquitoes and stray pigs.
✓ The area used to shelter wild peacocks and birds, but the current situation has destroyed and rotted their natural inhabitant.
✓ The approaching monsoon could worsen the situation as rainwater will get contaminated with the garbage and flow on city roads.
✓ No proper mechanism is in place to manage this issue and the amount of garbage dumped is increasing making the issue even worse.

The local gram Panchayat and the MIDC own these tracts of land in the IT Park area and are allowing these activities to take place. There has to be a proper mechanism to deal with the issue and they need to set up garbage processing units considering the increasing residential and commercial activities.

The affected residents of the area have also raised their voice through social media platforms, including Twitter, and tagged the departments concerned and the government’s Swachh Bharat Mission. However, still, no action has been taken so far.”