By: Govind VijaykumarPUNE: Over 400 residents of Wagholi from nearly 40 housing societies were on Saturday part of a protest march against illegal dumping and garbage burning in the area.The protest culminated at a garbage dump near the Wagheshwar temple chowk — a health hazard for residents for the past many years.A garbage processing plant set up near the dump by the local administration in December has so far failed to provide any respite from the tonnes of burning waste lying in the open. The unit was set up at the cost of Rs3 crore, officials said, with the promise that it would process nearly 16 tonnes of waste every day.“But there has been no activity at the plant for the past few months. We want the garbage processing to start again. And that is our primary demand,” said a resident.A representative from the company hired to set up and run the plant — Mplus Automation LLP, based out of Karvenagar — promised protesters the plant would start operations from April 10. “There were a few technical problems at the unit. The unit will even churn out fuel from waste. We’re confident that the plant will resume operations by April 10,” said Manohar Dhabade, a representative of the company.“If the plant is not operational by April 10, a special gram sabha should be held on April 15 to decide the future course of action, which will involve the removal of the current company,” read a statement released by the Wagholi Housing Societies Association (WHSA).The WHSA also sought guarantees from the gram panchayat on the deploying of new garbage collection vehicles by April 11, and 15 to 20 guards to keep an eye out for littering in the area. The setting up of a joint committee — a mix of Wagholi residents and gram panchayat officials — was also proposed. “Inadequate waste collection has caused this garbage dump to increase in height. And open burning has turned the air around it toxic,” said another resident.“Three other garbage processing units will be set up in Wagholi only if this one succeeds. So, all our hopes are pinned on this one garbage processing plant,” said a senior member of the WHSA.

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