Pune Municipal Corporation Leachate Processing Unit Goes Ahead

A leachate processing unit of unstated design will be implmented for the garbage dumping sites in Urali- Phursungi. This must be good news for the locals. You can visit the original "Times of India" web site by following the link provided below the article. excerpt below:

PUNE: The solution to long pending problem of leachate processing at the garbage dumping sites in Urali-Phursungi is in sight.

The Pune Municipal Corporation standing committee gave a green signal to set up the processing unit at the site on Tuesday.

Tenders worth around Rs 1 crore have been approved for this plant. The plant will process leachate from both the villages including Urali Phursungi. The plant is expected to start in three months time," said a statement issued by the standing committee.
Leachate is a liquid by-product of the waste. Leachate discharged from the dumping site should be lifted and treated before it is released. Leachate is a combination of liquid residues of heavy and toxic metals. The sodium in the leachate irritates the skin and causes internal injury. Once it enters the body through the skin, it can also cause cancer.

The PMC has started capping project for dealing with the open dumping of garbage and garbage disposal. Capping prevents groundwater contamination by stopping rainwater from percolating through buried garbage.

Scientific capping comprises bio-mining, cutting off drains, provision of geo-membrane, methane gas tapping and reduction and compacting of garbage height. But right now PMC has no special leachate treatment plant. release of untreated leachate is a violation of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.

The final resting place of the leachate is on the land near Saswad Road railway station. The residents of these areas have been demanding action against it. There are swarming clouds of flies and mosquitoes at the site because of the leachate. People say that their daily routine has been hampered. People say that they don't feel like eating or drinking anything due the unhygienic conditions caused by large amount of leachate spread across the area.

A recent study report of a non governmental organisation , states that the stench from garbage processing and the landfill site pervades the air at neighbouring villages and leachate from the landfill contaminates ground water.

View the original article here