PUNE: Residents of the Kothrud area are distressed over the accumulation of construction waste and garbage on Cummins Hill.
“At least two trucks dump waste in the quarry on a daily basis. Most of this is concrete and construction waste. It is not treated or removed. We fear that the accumulating waste will soon cover most of the remaining clean area,” a resident and regular visitor to the tekdi said. “There is so much garbage accumulating in the quarries on the tekdi that soon it will be all over the hill and there will be no space for residents to walk or play games here,” said another resident.
Kunal Khemnar, additional commissioner, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), said it was the responsibility of construction site supervisors to dump debris in authorized places. “If construction waste is being dumped at a government property, we need to find out who is responsible for it. I will bring this to the notice of the departments concerned and tell them to carry out necessary inspection. Trucks bringing in debris will also be fined along with those responsible for dumping of waste,” Khemnar said.
PMC deputy commissioner (solid waste management) Ajit Deshmukh said they would visit the hillock and speak to the ward officer concerned about removing the garbage. “A contractor has been appointed to collect and deposit concrete waste at a plant in Wagholi. Recently, a contractor for the construction of the Metro corridor at Dhole Patil Road was fined for dumping waste at an unauthorized location. This was brought to light by the local ward officer,” he added.