Agarwaltimes - Wagholi panchayat samiti gets MPCB notice

PUNE: The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has issued a notice to the block development officer of the Wagholi panchayat samiti for failing to comply with the board's rules regarding pollution caused by solid waste disposal.

MPCB deputy regional officer Satish Padwal issued the notice on Monday after residents of Mystic Meadows and other residential societies in Wagholi complained of excessive pollution caused by the burning of solid waste in their area.

In its letter, the board has referred to index 4 of the citizen's charter, which empowers the village panchayat to take action in case of pollution-related complaints.

Padwal said the board took cognizance of the residents' complaints as well as media reports on the issue to serve a notice to the block development officer. "We have asked them to submit an action-taken report to the board at the earliest, failing which, we have legal provisions to tackle the matter," he added.

On February 18, TOI had reported about the difficulties being faced by people living in societies behind Wagheshwar temple because of the rampant burning of municipal solid waste in a garbage depot nearby.

Ramdas Dhabade, deputy sarpanch of the Wagholi gram panchayat, said they could take action only after receiving the notice from the panchayat samiti. "If we get the notice, we may simply stop collecting garbage from residential societies, as so far, we have no other solution to the problem. A long-term solution has to be found," he said.

Ela Agarwal, an affected resident of the area, hopes to get some respite from the incessant smoke. "We are waiting for some action, as we are all fed up of breathing in polluted air. I am not sure what action the gram panchayat will take, but we are not going to give up our agitation," she said.

Agarwaltimes