The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has fast-tracked the approval of a ₹66 crore proposal for processing cloth waste, sparking debate over transparency and the effectiveness of the city’s solid waste management strategies. The move comes as part of the PMC’s 2025-26 budget, which has prioritized waste management, water supply, and infrastructure projects, but has also reignited concerns about the recycling of old, unsuccessful initiatives under new names.
Pune generates some of the highest volumes of municipal solid waste in India, including significant amounts of cloth and textile waste. Despite years of investment and multiple strategic plans, the city continues to struggle with incomplete waste processing, landfill overflows, and environmental hazards. The PMC’s Solid Waste Management Strategic Plan 2017-2025 set ambitious goals for 100% waste processing and circular economy practices, yet gaps remain in execution and monitoring.
The newly sanctioned ₹66 crore will fund a dedicated facility for processing cloth waste, aiming to convert it into Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) and, eventually, electricity. However, critics point out that similar waste-to-energy projects have been introduced and rebranded multiple times over the past decade, often with little success.
A notable example is the waste-to-energy project at Ramtekdi Industrial Estate. Initially launched in 2012-13 and later shifted to a single 750-tonne project, it faced technical failures and did not generate electricity as promised. Instead, it produced only boiler fuel, leading to stockpiles of unprocessed waste. The project was reintroduced in the 2025-26 budget under a new name, with the current proposal stating that 350 metric tonnes of waste will be processed for power generation.
Civic activists and citizen groups have criticized the PMC for what they describe as a lack of transparency and due diligence. Vivek Velankar, president of Sajag Nagarik Manch, questioned why failed projects are being repackaged and pushed through without thorough review. “The PMC has spent crores on waste-to-energy projects without any success. Why is this failed project being pushed again? The municipal commissioner should investigate this,” Velankar said.
Municipal Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale, who took office last year, was reportedly unaware of the project’s troubled history, raising further concerns about internal communication and oversight within the PMC.
PMC officials maintain that the new project is distinct, with a two-stage process: first, producing RDF from cloth waste, and second, generating electricity. The plant is currently operational for RDF, with plans to begin power generation pending regulatory approvals. The administration claims this approach aligns with the city’s broader goals of promoting a circular economy and reducing landfill dependency.
The 2025-26 PMC budget, totaling ₹12,618 crore, has made significant allocations for solid waste management, water metering, and road improvements. While the administration emphasizes a people-oriented approach, the urgency with which the ₹66 crore cloth waste proposal was approved has left many questioning the prioritization of funds and the true potential for positive impact.