Pune Municipal Corporation Uploads Garbage Burning Action Plan, But Fails To Provide Monthly Reports
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The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has finally uploaded its action plan on open waste burning in Pune, complying with the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) Western Zone bench order from May 29 . However, the corporation has failed to provide monthly reports on its website, as mandated by the NGT.
The action plan, published on December 17, outlines the PMC’s measures to tackle chronic waste burning spots, increase fines for open waste burning, and monitor solid waste burning through flying squads. According to the document, the PMC received 44 complaints regarding open burning between June and December 2024 and imposed fines totaling ₹2,20,000 .
The PMC has also increased the spot fine for open waste burning from ₹500 to ₹5,000. Eight flying squad vehicles are operational to control open burning, uphold the plastic ban, and tackle other solid waste management rule breaches.
Data on chronic waste burning spots reveals that out of 928 spots identified at the beginning of the year, 719 have been cleared, with 230 beautified. The Hadapsar-Mundhwa region has the highest number of remaining chronic spots, with 44 yet to be cleared.
Despite this progress, activist groups like Pune Air Action Hub have criticized the PMC for not publishing monthly reports on its website. The NGT order explicitly stated that the PMC should conduct monthly reviews of garbage burning measures and post the actions taken on its website for public purposes.
