Pimpri Chinchwad garbage up by 500 tonnes a day, contractor payments questioned

Figures for the garbage collected daily in Pimpri-Chinchwad have suddenly come under discussion. Over the past few months, the quantity has risen by more than 500 tonnes. This has raised suspicion of a major financial irregularity, and of crores of rupees of the civic body's money going to contractors. Residents and social activists are asking how the figure jumped past 2,100 tonnes a day when six months ago 1,500 to 1,600 tonnes were being lifted daily.

The health department of the municipal corporation says the city generates about 1,500 tonnes of garbage a day, but the garbage now being lifted is estimated at about 2,100 tonnes. Contractors are paid according to the weight of the garbage and the number of trips their vehicles make. Health department officials claim that the garbage that piled up after the Moshi garbage depot was closed is still being cleared, which is why the figure has gone up.

The city's population is over 30 lakh. According to the health department, about 1,500 tonnes of wet and dry garbage is collected daily. Under its solid waste management programme, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has given the contract for door-to-door collection and transport to the Moshi depot to BVG India Limited and Antony Lara. Even so, garbage collection has been disrupted in many parts of the city.

Figures from different departments do not match, adding to the confusion. The health department says 1,500 tonnes is lifted daily, while PCMC's environment status report records 1,800 tonnes a day. With the new figure of 2,100 tonnes, the questions have deepened, as each department gives a different quantity.

BJP corporator Vinod Nadhe said, "Contractors are making a fortune from the increase in garbage weight. Taxpayers' money is being looted. It appears the corporation no longer has strict control over collection centres and garbage vehicles. Crores of rupees are spent on advertisements in the name of the Swachh Survekshan, yet a crore-rupee scam over garbage weight is being allowed to happen. The double standard of the corporation administration is plain to see. There should be a full inquiry into the rise in garbage. The truth about where this extra 500 tonnes came from must come out at the earliest, and strict action should be taken against whichever officials and contractors are found responsible."

Civic officials, however, gave another reason for the difference in weight. Pradeep Thengal, deputy commissioner of PCMC's health department, said, "The garbage being reported now appears to be about 2,000 tonnes, but the Moshi garbage depot was closed for some time. Garbage that had accumulated in different parts of the city is now being taken to the Moshi depot, which is why the quantity looks higher. Once all the garbage accumulated in the city is cleared, the daily weight will return to the earlier level."

Thengal also said, "We do not lift garbage from outside the city limits. Action is taken against those who bring garbage from outside and dump it in the city. Garbage collection has been disrupted, but it will return to normal within a week. Action will be taken against those who break the rules."

A large share of the garbage accumulated in the city is plastic, including plastic bottles and bags. The rest includes biodegradable waste, sacks, sanitary napkins, coconut shells, wood, leaves and other garden waste, paper, leather, cloth, electrical waste, ceramics, metal, hazardous household waste, glass, sponge and thermocol.