No smoke should emerge from Padegaon waste depot: Mayor warns officials

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

A massive heap of garbage at the Padegaon waste processing centre has been on fire for the past eight days, and the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation (CSMC) has been struggling to bring the blaze under control. Residents living in nearby areas have been suffering immensely due to the dense smoke. Mayor Sameer Rajurkar on Tuesday inspected the site and directed officials to ensure that the smoke is stopped completely.

The waste has been lying at the site since the city’s garbage crisis in 2018. Fires break out intermittently in the accumulated garbage. For the past eight days, the fire has continued to smoulder, releasing thick smoke. More than 40,000 residents from Gloria City, Lalmati and Kasambari Dargah areas have been affected by the smoke.

During the inspection, the mayor instructed the solid waste management department to bring the fire under control immediately. He directed officials to use private water tankers and deploy JCBs and poclain machines to turn over the garbage heaps.

“Do whatever is necessary, but the smoke must stop completely,” he told officials.

Probe demanded by Uddhav Sena

Uddhav Sena on Tuesday demanded an inquiry into the functioning of the Padegaon waste processing centre. The party demanded that dumping garbage beyond the site’s capacity should be stopped and the accumulated waste should be scientifically processed and completely disposed of.

The party also demanded action against officials and others responsible for the recurring fires. It further sought air and water pollution testing and asked for the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board’s report to be made public.

The party warned the civic administration to take appropriate action and submit a report within eight days, failing which it would launch an agitation.

The delegation included city chief Haribhau Hiwale, CSMC group leader Ganesh Lokhande, corporators Rashid Mamu, Sachin Khaire, Savitribai Vani among others.