PMC bans paper cups and plastic items in offices
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has banned the use of plastic and paper cups, as well as other single-use plastic items, across all its offices. The move aligns with the Maharashtra Plastic and Thermocol Products (Manufacture, Usage, Sale, Transport, Handling and Storage) Notification, 2018, issued by the state's Environment Department.
In a circular dated July 10, additional municipal commissioner Prithviraj BP directed all PMC departments to immediately stop using plastic files, bottles, cups, and even plastic-coated bouquets. Notably, the use of paper cups for tea has also been prohibited due to their inner plastic lining, which makes them non-biodegradable.
The circular emphasises that such non-degradable waste poses a serious risk to public health and the environment, and mandates strict adherence to the 2018 rules and their subsequent amendments.
Citing research by IIT Kharagpur, the circular notes that drinking just three cups of tea or coffee a day from paper cups can lead to the ingestion of around 75,000 microplastic particles. These, along with harmful elements such as palladium, chromium, and cadmium, have been linked to health issues including hormonal imbalance, reproductive disorders, cancer, and neurological complications.
'All heads of departments must ensure that officers and staff in their sections stop using these banned items with immediate effect. Even paper cups with plastic lining must be avoided when serving tea,' said Prithviraj BP
According to officials, the initiative is part of PMC's broader campaign to reduce plastic waste and encourage sustainable practices throughout the city. The Solid Waste Management Department and zonal offices have also been instructed to ensure strict compliance.
Environmental activists have welcomed the decision and called on other government and private offices to adopt similar measures. 'This is a much-needed step. Paper cups are often seen as eco-friendly, but their plastic lining makes them hard to recycle and hazardous to health. This ban will encourage people to explore truly sustainable alternatives,' one activist said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
15 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Sharp decline in rabies cases among stray dogs
In a significant achievement for public health and animal welfare, the number of rabies-infected stray dogs in the city has dropped sharply over the past few years, according to data released by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)'s Health department. While 373 suspected rabies cases were reported in 2018, only 19 cases have been recorded so far in 2025. Similarly, confirmed rabies cases reduced from 220 in 2018 to just 3 in the current year. (REPRESENTATIVE PIC) The data from 2018 till August 4, 2025 show a decline in the number of suspected as well as confirmed rabies cases. While 373 suspected rabies cases were reported in 2018, only 19 cases have been recorded so far in 2025. Similarly, confirmed rabies cases reduced from 220 in 2018 to just 3 in the current year. Health officials from the civic body confirmed that the overall positivity rate - the percentage of suspected dogs that tested positive for rabies - has also decreased. The positivity rate was as high as 75% in 2020 and 2021, but has dropped to 15% in 2025. Dr Sarika Funde-Bhosale, chief veterinary officer, PMC, attributed this decline to the mass vaccination campaigns, awareness drives, and better coordination and implementation of the Animal Birth Control Programme (ABC) in the city. 'Over the past four years, we have successfully administered 191,466 doses of vaccination to stray dogs and community dogs,' she said. According to civic officials, in case a dog is suspected of carrying rabies, based on symptoms or the type of biting incident reported, it is picked up by the PMC dog squad and admitted to the quarantine facility at the dog pound. The dog is observed and tested for infection, and if found uninfected, is released back in the locality from where it was picked up. In case of death, the carcass is sent for tests, wherein the brain tissue is tested twice through rapid antigen test and PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test. In the event of rabies-positive cases, mass vaccination drives and community awareness is conducted by the civic body as an immediate follow-up measure. 'Our vaccination drives have not just led to a significant reduction in rabies cases, but have also led to a marked increase in public awareness about reporting dog bites and seeking timely prophylaxis,' said Dr Funde-Bhosale.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Time of India
Five months on, PMC yet to finalise spot for proposed water purification plant for GBS-hit areas along Sinhagad Road
Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has yet to finalise the site for a proposed water purification plant announced in Feb to provide clean water to areas along Sinhagad Road, which experienced a Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) outbreak between Dec 2024 to Jan this year. The proposed project required 2-3 hectares of land, and PMC is still exploring options to acquire it from either the irrigation department or defense authorities, officials said. A PMC water supply department official stated, "We planned to set up a 200 million litres per day (MLD) water treatment plant in Feb. We are, however, still debating whether to build one 200 MLD capacity plant or two 100 MLD plants. We are considering the Khadakwasla area for the facility, but the exact location has yet to be determined. " At least 230 GBS cases have been recorded in the city since the outbreak, with 12 deaths. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune PMC officials said once operational, the purification plant would help supply treated water to areas along Sinhagad Road. "As of now, water is being supplied through the wells located in Nanded, Barangani Mala and Dhayari. As a makeshift arrangement, PMC has installed chlorination units at each of the wells to mix an adequate quantity of chlorine in the water before supplying it to the residents," another PMC official said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like TV providers are furious: this gadget gives you access to all channels Techno Mag Learn More Undo The poor quality of water supply was considered among the reasons for GBS cases in the Sinhagad Road area. "Following the outbreak, PMC initiated various steps to improve the quality of water being supplied to the area," the official said, adding that continuous monitoring of water supply in the Sinhagad Road area was under way. PMC attempted to supply water to areas from the Wadgaon purification plant too. "That proposal failed to move ahead owing to technical challenges," the official said. State govt has expressed willingness to provide funds for the purification unit and related infrastructure like a pumping station and laying supply lines. The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 500 crore. Residents from the areas of Khadakwasla, Dhayari and Kirkatwadi said they wanted the civic administration to take up the project on priority. Khadakwasla resident Digabar Mate said, "It is good that no new GBS cases have been reported from the areas over the six months, but this cannot be a reason for delaying the water purification plant proposal. Residents cannot remain dependent solely on the wells to meet their drinking water requirements. " Dhayari resident Amit Ingale said water supply was erratic in many pockets along Sinhagad Road, despite Khadakwasla dam in the vicinity. STILL ON PAPER THE PROPOSAL In Feb, PMC announced a proposal to construct a 200 MLD water purification plant to meet the requirements for localities along Sinhagad Road NEED FOR PLANT The Sinhagad Road area, primarily Dhayari, Khadakwasla, Kirkatwadi, Nandoshi and Nanded, recorded a surge in Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) cases between last Dec and this Jan Tests revealed that 19 out of 30 private water purification plants in the area were supplying contaminated water, with some samples containing E. coli and other harmful pathogens THE OPTIONS One plant of 200 MLD capacity Two plants of 100 MLD capacity each LOCATION STATUS PMC had proposed to set up the plant in the Khadakwasla area, but it has not been finalised yet LAND REQUIREMENT Approximately 2-3 hectares (previously mentioned in a different context, might not be directly related to this specific plant)
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Environmentalists blame PMC's poor sewage treatment for increase in Mutha water pollution
1 2 Pune: PMC's efforts to treat sewage have been falling short, the civic body's environment status report for 2024-25 has revealed. The COD (chemical oxygen demand) and BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) levels in the Mutha river have increased over the year, which, according to environmentalists, indicates poor water quality. Environmentalists have claimed that the administration has not been treating sewage properly, leading to deterioration in the river's water quality. PMC officials said that projects to augment the city's sewage treatment capacity are in the pipeline. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Both COD and BOD indicate the amount of contamination in a water sample. COD is the amount of oxygen required to chemically break down contaminants, while BOD is the amount of oxygen required for biodegradation by microorganisms. High levels of BOD and COD signify a significant presence of organic pollutants. This surge in pollutants can lead to oxygen depletion in water, posing severe risks to aquatic life. As per the ESR, COD in the Mutha river was 86.22 mg/l in 2023-24, which increased to 95.27 mg/l in 2024-25. A marginal increase in BOD was also observed, rising to 27.71 mg/l from 27.67 mg/l. The lake water of Pashan saw an increase in BOD from 103.81 mg/l to 115.07 mg/l, while COD decreased marginally from 33.25 mg/l to 32.67 mg/l. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Beautiful Female Athletes Right Now Undo In Katraj Lake, COD level increased, while BOD decreased. The COD in this lake was 10.20 mg/l. It went up to 10.30 mg/l, while BOD dropped from 33.94 mg/l to 31.14 mg/l. "The civic administration should focuses more on real issues like dealing with sewage treatment. Unfortunately, projects like riverfront development, which are not needed, are being prioritised," said Shailaja Deshpande of Jeevitnadi, an organisation working for conservation of rivers. "A number of projects has been announced but they are getting delayed. The administration should ensure that sewage treatment plants are completed on time. Only then will the problem of untreated sewage discharge be reduced," said Sanjay Lalwani, an environmentalist. The civic areas have 10 STPs and 11 more are planned to be constructed under a special project funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA.) Civic officials said that currently, 477 MLD of sewage is being treated daily. After completion of JICA project by March 2026, the capacity will increase by an additional 396 MLD. Improvement in existing 10 STPs has also been proposed. PMC has approved Rs450 crore to augment the capacity of six sewage treatment plants (STPs). The sewage generated from GBS-affected Sinhagad Road area, and places near Bhairoba Nullah, Narveer Tanajiwadi, Erandwane, Naidu Hospital, and Bopodi would be treated properly after the augmentation of STPs, said officials. The project would be jointly funded by PMC, the state govt, and the central govt's Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). PMC would bear 40% of the project's cost, with the rest shared by the central and state govts. Two out of six STPs would be completely revamped. The current combined treatment capacity of these plants is 362 MLD, which will increase to 461 MLD after augmentation. "A number of sewage treatments plants, including those dedicated to newly merged areas, has been planned. These include construction of STPs, laying of pipelines and allied infrastructure. Once completed, they will increase the treatment capacity of civic areas," said Jagdish Khanore, head of PMC's drainage department. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
