Closure of the garbage dumping ground is the main demand by villagers from Kopre, Devachi Urali, Undri and Pisoli in Haveli Taluka, and unless the rubbish depot is not shut down, they are not willing to come under Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) limits. A merger will only be considered if the villages are stopped from being used as dumping grounds, say villagers.
Not the first time
Earlier in 1997, these villages were reluctant to merge with PMC and, after the recent notification, now they are hesitant.u00a0Neeta Bhadale, woman sarpanch, Devachi Urali, said, “We are not ready to merge into PMC limits, but the final decision will be taken at the gramsabha (village meeting) soon.
In a mess: Garbage dumped at Bavdhan village; (left) waste scattered near Undri village. Pics/Imzanglu Aieru00a0
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Not the first time
Earlier in 1997, these villages were reluctant to merge with PMC and, after the recent notification, now they are hesitant.u00a0Neeta Bhadale, woman sarpanch, Devachi Urali, said, “We are not ready to merge into PMC limits, but the final decision will be taken at the gramsabha (village meeting) soon. PMC should first remove its garbage depot located on 46 acres of land and stop the capping work (scientific closure) too. The village is affected by the garbage odour and mosquito menace.”
Contaminated water
Shewta Ghule, woman sarpanch, Undri village, supported Bhadale on the garbage issue, saying, “Underground water sources in our village are contaminated due to the capping and garbage dumping at Devachi Urali. This has resulted in us getting inadequate water to drink and we have to depend on PMC’s water supply. If the garbage depot will be shifted elsewhere from Devachi Urali, we expect that the underground water will become potable.”Jyoti Kadam, former woman sarpanch, Pisoli village, said, “PMC should first stop the garbage dumping in our area then only we will think of merging.”
Baby Chavan (L) and Neeta Bhadale
Worst affected
Among these villages Kopre is the worst affected, as surrounding villages dump their garbage on their land. “Villagers from Kondhawe-Dhavade, Shivne and Uttamnagar dump their garbage in our village. Over the years the problem has gone from bad to worse. We now face a problem disposing garbage generated in our own village,” said Baby Chavan, woman sarpanch, Kopre Village.u00a0The garbage heaps are evident at Kopre village, and a water canal running through the village is adding to their woes, as it brings along garbage, plastic bags and other waste.u00a0
“We are taking necessary precautions by fumigating the village every evening to fight the mosquito menace, ” Chavan said. “We have a small budget because villagers do not pay property tax regularly. So development work is stalled, and there are no proper roads in the village,” said Chavan.u00a0Arjun Chaudhari, a villager said, “Kopre was clean till the year 2006, but now I am fed up with the garbage and mosquito problem.”
Officialspeak
Suresh Jagtap, deputy commissioner (Solid Waste Management), PMC, said, “The garbage issue at Kopre and villages near Devachi Urali are certainly grave, but we can tackle it if these villages come under PMC jurisdiction. We can collect the garbage at Kopre regularly and set up recycling unit of dry waste there. Garbage capping work at Devach Urali, however, can’t be stopped totally.”u00a0
Factsheet
Kopre:
Population: 3,500
Area: 2,000 hectares
Ongoing housing projects: 5
Land cost: Rs 6 lakh for a guntha. (Due to proximity to Nanded Town project)
Construction Cost: Rs 2,000 per sq-ft.
Devachi Urali:
Population: 20,000
Area: 1,058.98 hectares
Ongoing housing projects: 6
Land cost: Rs 4 to 8 lakh per guntha
Construction cost: Rs 2,500 to 3,000 per sq-ft
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