MLA Shankar Jagtap Unveils ‘Zero-Garbage’ Plan for Chinchwad
He asks civic officials to tackle chronic garbage spots, encroachments, illegal hoardings and hawker-related issues
Pimpri : Chinchwad MLA Shankar Jagtap has drawn up an action plan aimed at strengthening the civic infrastructure and cleanliness system in the constituency, with a focus on permanently addressing recurring garbage accumulation, encroachments, illegal hoardings, weekly markets and hawker-related issues.
Jagtap has set a target of making Chinchwad a ‘Zero-Garbage Zone’, directing Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) officials to identify locations where garbage is repeatedly dumped and implement permanent solutions instead of merely clearing the waste whenever complaints are received.
A meeting of PCMC ward office officials from different areas of the Chinchwad constituency was held at Jagtap’s contact office on Thursday to review various civic issues. Cleanliness, encroachments, hawker zones, weekly markets, traffic management and preparations for the upcoming festive period were among the issues discussed.
The meeting was attended by Ashwini Gaikwad of D and J ward offices, Santosh Korad of H ward office, Mukesh Kolap of G ward office and Gorkhanath Nimhan of B ward office.
Permanent solution for ‘chronic spots’
Jagtap directed officials to prepare an area-wise list of ‘chronic spots’ where garbage is frequently found and identify the reasons behind repeated dumping. He said merely removing garbage from such locations would not resolve the problem and asked officials to introduce measures that would prevent the recurrence of waste accumulation.He also directed the civic administration to maintain regular cleanliness around public places, crematorium premises and public toilets. Jagtap further asked officials to monitor the attendance and actual performance of contractual sanitation workers deployed in different areas, stressing that the presence of workers on paper should translate into visible work on the ground.
Action against encroachments, illegal hoardings
The MLA also directed the administration to take action, as per rules, against unauthorised stickers pasted on flyovers, walls and other public infrastructure, as well as illegal hoardings and advertising structures. He emphasised the need to keep footpaths free from encroachments to ensure pedestrian safety and facilitate smooth traffic movement. According to Jagtap, encroachment-related issues need to be addressed systematically rather than through temporary drives, particularly at locations witnessing heavy pedestrian and vehicular movement.
Planned approach to hawker zones
Jagtap called for a comprehensive approach while identifying and regulating hawker zones in the constituency. He said the civic administration should not select locations merely because space is available. Technical feasibility, traffic movement and public safety should be considered before finalising any hawker zone. He also suggested considering special priority or reservation for persons with disabilities, women, widows and abandoned women while planning hawker zones.
Weekly markets need proper planning
Jagtap directed officials to ensure that weekly markets are not allowed on footpaths or open government land. At the same time, organisers conducting markets on private premises should be required to make adequate parking arrangements so that market-related traffic does not spill onto adjoining roads. He said such planning was essential to prevent inconvenience to residents and avoid traffic congestion in surrounding areas.
Festive-season arrangements
With increased footfall and traffic expected during the festive season, Jagtap asked ward-level officials to undertake advance planning to prevent problems related to garbage accumulation, traffic congestion and poor sanitation. He stressed that the civic administration should anticipate the pressure on public infrastructure during festivals and deploy resources accordingly. “Chinchwad’s cleanliness, traffic management and civic infrastructure must be strengthened through effective and sustained action. Temporary measures may address a problem for a day, but the administration must work towards permanent solutions,” Jagtap said. The MLA directed the concerned officials to coordinate across departments and ensure that civic issues in the constituency are addressed through continuous monitoring and timely action.
