The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has unveiled an ambitious plan to decentralise waste management in the city by setting up six new garbage processing plants. As part of its 2023-24 Environmental Status Report (ESR), the PMC aims to augment its waste processing capacity by an additional 750 metric tonnes per day.
This initiative is a strategic move to handle the daily waste generation of approximately 2100 to 2200 metric tonnes, comprising 950 to 1000 metric tonnes of wet waste and 1200 metric tonnes of dry waste. The proposed plants will be strategically located across various key areas, including Ramtekadi, Handewadi, Katraj, Kondhwa, and Pune Cantonment. The decentralised approach is designed to optimise waste management by reducing transportation costs and environmental impact. Notably, the plant at Ramtekadi is expected to process 350 metric tonnes of waste daily and generate electricity from the garbage, marking a significant step towards sustainable waste-to-energy solutions.
In addition to the new plants, PMC has already established a facility at Talegaon MIDC, processing 120 metric tonnes of food waste daily and generating biogas. The corporation has acquired a 15,000-square-foot plot at Talegaon for this purpose. The current waste processing capacity of PMC stands at 900 to 950 metric tonnes per day, and with the new facilities, this capacity is set to rise significantly, aligning with the city’s growing waste management needs.
The ESR also highlights the efforts of the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) in reducing air pollution. The public transport system has transitioned 88% of its fleet, comprising 1,660 out of 1,887 buses, to eco-friendly fuel. This shift is part of a broader strategy to mitigate the environmental impact of the city’s burgeoning vehicle population, which saw an increase from 254,907 in 2022 to 293,471 in 2023, bringing the total number of vehicles to 3,863,849.
PMC’s multi-faceted approach to waste management and pollution control reflects a growing commitment to environmental sustainability. The introduction of new waste processing plants and the transition to greener public transportation options are pivotal steps towards a cleaner and more sustainable Pune. This comprehensive strategy not only addresses the immediate challenges of waste management but also sets a precedent for future urban planning initiatives in India.
