Pune to install fogging system to control pollution and waste smell
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has announced plans to deploy a fogging and misting system at the Hadapsar waste transfer station and nearby processing facilities. The decision comes on the heels of sustained protests by local residents who have been grappling with the stench and pollution generated by large-scale waste handling operations in the area.
As the largest among PMC’s eight solid waste transfer stations, Hadapsar handles vast volumes of municipal waste each day, sharing its vicinity with a 200-tonne-per-day composting facility, a 150-tonne-per-day mixed waste unit, and a 300-tonne-per-day landfill site. The civic body has floated a tender calling on experienced contractors to supply, install, and operate an advanced misting system across the 30-acre site. The system is designed to spray ultra-fine droplets round-the-clock at 15-minute intervals, neutralising odours and suppressing particulate matter. The contractors will also be required to install two portable anti-smog guns with a minimum spray range of 25 metres and fix nozzles at least six metres high, spaced no more than 1.2 metres apart.
In a significant sustainability push, only organic or environmentally-approved chemicals deemed safe for human and animal exposure will be permitted for use in the spraying mechanism. The new initiative also mandates the construction of an automated tyre washing bay at the entry and exit points of the waste facility. This is aimed at arresting the outward spread of dust and sludge from waste-carrying trucks onto public roads, further safeguarding local air quality. The entire system, once installed, will be maintained and operated by the contractor for five years, with technical demonstrations required from shortlisted bidders before final approval is granted. Civic officials assert that the proposed system will be critical in mitigating the environmental impact caused by waste handling, particularly in an area that also hosts an ongoing bio-mining project under the Pune Cantonment Board, which residents say has worsened the stench.
Residents from over 35 housing societies, including those from Sopan Baug, Uday Baug, BT Kawade Road, and Ghorpadi, have previously staged a peaceful protest under the banner of the Residents’ Forum, demanding a clean and liveable environment. The protest, supported by the Hadapsar Industrial Estate, called attention to the direct health impacts on citizens and the disruption to nearby businesses. Residents had earlier objected to a PMC proposal to erect a large shed over the facility, fearing that it would only trap odour instead of eliminating it. Instead, they demanded active odour control systems that are scientifically sound and community-sensitive.
With this move, the PMC appears to be acknowledging the need for sustainable solutions that go beyond temporary fixes. The deployment of misting technologies signals a shift towards environmentally conscious urban waste management, with a strong emphasis on air quality and public health. Whether this system will offer lasting relief to the surrounding communities remains to be seen, but for now, it represents a meaningful step towards cleaner, safer urban infrastructure.
Pune to install fogging system to control pollution and waste smell
