Pimpri Chinchwad: NCP City President Alleges BJP MLA’s Support for Controversial Garbage Depot in Punawale

Pune, 10th December 2023: Tushar Kamthe, the NCP City President, is raising concerns about BJP MLAs allegedly supporting their relatives, posing a threat to citizens in Pimpri Chinchwad.

The Pimpri Chinchwad city unit of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Sharad Pawar, strongly opposes the establishment of a garbage depot by the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) at Punawale. Despite the civic body inviting bids for a Waste To Energy (WTE) project at the Moshi garbage depot, questions arise about the necessity of a new garbage depot at Punawale.

The reserved 65-acre plot in Punawale, designated for a garbage depot in the 2008 development plan (DP), has seen residential and commercial construction in violation of the designated no-development zone. This has led to concerns about the potential impact on lakhs of residents in Punawale, Tathawade, Wakad, and surrounding areas, as well as neighboring villages.

Additionally, the tree plantation drives conducted by PCMC on the Punawale plot since 2010 face potential disruption due to the proposed garbage depot. The environmental impact, including the cost of cutting and transplanting trees to Gadchiroli, adds to the concerns raised by Kamthe.

Highlighting the potential economic repercussions, Kamthe draws parallels with Sharad Pawar’s decision to relocate a proposed sugar factory, leading to the development of the Hinjawadi IT park. He warns that the relocation of IT companies from Hinjewadi could result in job losses for lakhs of IT sector employees, impacting housing and livelihoods in the region.

In response to these issues, Kamthe suggests an alternative approach—transforming the Punawale plot into an oxygen park. This, he argues, would enhance air quality, preventing a potential air pollution crisis similar to Mumbai and Delhi.

Allegations against BJP MLAs involved in the tree plantation and WTE project add another layer to the controversy. Kamthe accuses the civic administration of disregarding citizens’ concerns in pursuit of the garbage depot project.

In protest, the NCP has initiated a chain hunger strike near the PCMC main office building in Pimpri, urging citizens to join in opposing the creation of the Punawale garbage depot. The hunger strike is scheduled daily from 10 am to 6 pm until December 11.