Pune: The PMC’s standing committee on Thursday approved a proposal to enclose and upgrade the waste transfer and processing unit in the Hadapsar industrial area.The move follows persistent complaints from local residents regarding open handling of garbage, which has led to a pervasive foul odour and waste scattering throughout the locality.According to the Pune Municipal Corporation, the facility processes approximately 200 metric tonnes (MT) of garbage daily, collected from five different city divisions. Standing committee chairman Shrinath Bhimale stated that the unit will now be enclosed with a proper shed, and civil works will be undertaken to improve the ramp. “The work order has been issued, and repairs are expected to begin shortly,” Bhimale said.In other decisions, the committee sanctioned Rs3.4 crore for the repair of the Deccan Gymkhana subway. The project includes beautification of the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Smarak (memorial) located within the subway. Plans include the construction of a Meghdambari (ornamental canopy) and the addition of historical references to the subway’s interior.The committee also addressed the status of sewage treatment plants (STPs) in large housing societies. Amid observations that many units are poorly maintained, Bhimale directed the administration to conduct a detailed survey of STPs in societies with more than 100 flats. “The administration will verify if these plants are functional and operating at full capacity,” he added.In light of recent crimes against women and girls, corporators have called for a strengthened CCTV network. They have demanded a special provision of funds or a transfer from other budget heads to install more cameras across various neighborhoods to improve public safety.PMC revises building permission normsTo curb uncontrolled growth and administrative irregularities, municipal commissioner Naval Kishore Ram on Thursday announced a major shift in building permission protocols.Under the new guidelines, approval authority is now tiered based on plot size. Plots below 2,000 sq mtrs can be approved by deputy engineers. Plots between 2,000 sq mtrs and 10,000 sq mtrs require approval from executive engineers. Plots above 10,000 sq mtrs (and those requiring environmental clearance) must be cleared by superintending engineers.Ram stated that these changes aim to improve overall functioning, speed up the sanctioning process, and maintain a close watch on illegal constructions and haphazard developments.Water reaches to all 8 overhead water tanks in Mohammadwadi, NIBM areaThe civic administration on Thursday said that a work of laying of 23-km water transmission line has been completed in southern part of the city and that eight overhead tanks in areas of Mohammadwadi, NIBM road area under equitable water supply project have been commissioned. A 1.5 km of distribution pipeline from the overhead tank in the Dorabjee Paradise area was also commissioned on Thursday. The administration had set a target of May 15 to finish the works and start water distribution.
