Pune: In a significant step toward resolving long-standing environmental concerns at the Phursungi-Uruli Devachi garbage depot, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has appointed the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to monitor the bio-mining process. This decision, approved by the PMC Standing Committee, will cost ₹1.5 crore over a five-year period.

The Phursungi-Uruli Devachi garbage depot has been a contentious issue for years. Large-scale dumping by PMC caused severe air, water, and soil pollution, leading to protests by local residents in 2007-08.

Following the protests, PMC stopped dumping new waste and capped the landfill. However, pollution concerns persisted, prompting local residents to file a petition with the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

The NGT directed PMC to clear approximately 5.3 million metric tons of legacy waste through bio-mining. Since then, PMC has removed around 2.1 million metric tons of waste in two phases, in 2016 and 2021.

Now, an additional 10 million metric tons of waste will be processed over the next 1.5 years, with a budget of ₹97.9 crore allocated to contractors. A bio-mining facility with a processing capacity of 2,000 metric tons per day has been set up at the site to expedite the process.

By 2026, PMC aims to clear 3.1 million metric tons of waste from the depot. To ensure the bio-mining is conducted scientifically and effectively, NEERI will act as a third-party inspection agency.

The agency will monitor the project and provide regular reports to ensure compliance with environmental standards. The PMC Standing Committee has approved a phased payment of ₹1.5 crore for NEERI's services.

The payment structure includes ₹75 lakh upon issuance of the work order, ₹15 lakh annually for the next four years, and ₹15 lakh upon submission of the final report at the end of the five-year period.