Pune: Protesters opposing a new garbage processing plant at Uruli-Phursungi on Friday temporarily suspended their demonstration. According to the protesters, the protest was withdrawn following an intervention by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and local police officials. “Following these discussions, instructions were issued to halt all ongoing site activities of this plant until Sept 18. Our protesters cross-verified on the ground that the work is not underway and then decided to withdraw the agitation,” said Vishal Harpale, a protester.The protesters initially continued their demonstration at the site for two days to verify if physical operations had ceased, citing the absence of a written order from the municipal body. “A meeting with elected members, the contractor, and protesters was held earlier this month. The issues of both sides were discussed, after which a decision to stop the construction was taken,” said a senior official of PMC.A proposal worth Rs577 crore to award the construction of a 500-tonne capacity waste processing plant to a private agency was passed by a majority vote of the ruling BJP in PMC’s general body meeting in Aug. The project was opposed by corporators of opposition parties. The opposition corporators raised objections regarding the tender conditions, claiming preference was given to a particular company and that the project placed a financial burden on the civic body. However, after the administration’s clarification, all objections moved by the opposition were rejected by 109 to 36 votes, and the project was approved. “The project is important to deal with the garbage processing problem in civic areas. The administration has followed due process for this project,” Prajit Nair, additional commissioner of PMC, had said while speaking at the general body meeting.
