Drive for clean city
Public and  COMMISSIONER of PMC at SHIVAJINAGAR, PUNE 411 005.

Representatives from most of the Mohalla Committees under NSCC were present, together with, the Municipal Commissioner Mr. Pravinsingh Pardeshi, Deputy Municipal Commissioner Mr. Anil Gaekwad, Mr. Dhaigude, Deputy Municipal Commissioner Health, Mr. R.R. Pardeshi, and most of the Ward Officers and Health Officers.

1. The Commissioner restricted the topic of the meeting mainly to GARBAGE AND SANITATION, ENCROACHMENTS, STORM WATER DRAINS & ILLEGAL EATERIES and this was to be the focus of action for the next three months from the citizens and the Ward /Health / Encroachment Officers. 

2. The Commissioner has promised the citizens a “GARBAGE FREE PUNE”.  He stated that only 20% of the population was segregating garbage, and that with a population of approximately 30 lakhs, door-to-door collection was a problem.  Only one disposal site was working, and therefore the idea of de-centralized disposal of biodegradable garbage was mooted.

3.     The Garbage department has been separated from the Health Department for better efficiency.  Mr. Anil Gaekwad Deputy Commissioner (Solid Waste) may be contacted on 9823073617, if citizens face any problems at the Ward level.  Wardwise, there will be a separate officer for Solid Waste, and the Ward Officer will be responsible.

4. The Commissioner further stated that each area has different problems, which have to be solved in a different manner. 

5. The Mundhwa Mohalla Committee representative pointed out that since the last 20 years no D.P. plan has been followed. It is divided into Mundhwa Village and Ganesh Baug area.  There is only one central container for Ganesh Baug area. 20 bundles of garbage have piled up there and no action has been taken since October 2004 despite innumerable complaints.  The dry waste is selectively collectively by rag pickers and the rest is left on the road. The Commissioner immediately ordered an on site inspection the following morning with suitable follow up action.

6. The Resident’s Forum of Boat Club Road area once more stressed the fact that with consistent and persistent efforts of garbage segregation, vermiculture and consistent collection of garbage by PMC garbage trucks, they had achieved a garbage free container-free zone, and the same could be replicated in all the Wards of Pune.

7. Most of the Mohalla Committees had faced problems with Rag pickers and did not want to deal with them.  The Commissioner directed the Ward Officers to immediately remove any Rag Pickers who were causing problems and not working satisfactorily.

8. It was pointed out that unlicensed vendors also cause a mess on the roads, and the question was raised why the PMC did not close down unlicensed restaurants.  The Commissioner stated that the Sanitary Inspectors would be suspended for allowing non-licensed restaurants to operate.

9. The Commissioner further stated that the public could meet /telephone their Ward Officer every Monday between 8 to 8.30 am, regarding only one topic at a time. 

10. The Ward Office meetings on the last Thursday of each month would begin at 9 am, and only one representative from each Mohalla Committee should be present.  All Mohalla Committees are welcome to be represented, not necessarily those under the umbrella of NSCC.

11. For the next three months, at the monthly Ward Office Meetings the complaints and follow up action should only related to Garbage, Encroachments, and storm water drains.

12. The minutes of the meeting should not be more than half a page and in point form.

13. The Deputy Commissioner must meet the Mohalla Committees every 15 days.

14. There must be improvement on Complaint Redressals at all levels.  The Commissioner said that he was willing to attend to individual complaints.

15.  The Encroachment officers at the Ward Level will have full authority to remove small encroachments.  Big encroachments on roads (such as constructions etc) will be taken up by the Central Office.  At the Ward office level, he authorized the hiring of external non-PMC contractors to remove illegal encroachments.

16.  Mundhwa and Devachi Urali will do bio composting centrally for those who can’t do vermiculture on their premises.  Therefore, Garbage Segregation at Source is very important.  The first choice always, is in-situ vermicomposting, wherever possible.

17     The Commissioner further stated that a list of Societies / buildings who do not adopt vermiculture despite having the requisite space, should be made and they should be heavily fined, and their garbage should not be collected by the PMC. 

17.  Garden waste would not be collected by the PMC, but would have to be vermicomposted in-situ.

18.  A Junior Engineer for water problems will be available at each Ward Office, and their names and telephone numbers are to be published in the local newspapers, both English and Vernacular.

19.  The Ward Officers were instructed to fine those persons who were dumping garbage in the Nallah.

20.  All storm water drains were to be cleaned by 15^th June 2007.

21.  The Commissioner first stated that he would meet the Mohalla Committees once every two months, but these should not be covered by the press.

22.  He also stated that he would authorize local citizens residing near hilly/forested areas to issue notices to persons throwing garbage in these areas and that the PMC would later fine them.

The meeting ended on a cordial note, with public spirits high in the hope of a new, young and dynamic Municipal Commissioner with experience from abroad, being able to attend efficiently to the longstanding woes of Pune’s citizens.

                                                                 x-x-x-x-x-x-x