Pune:In the wake of growing air pollution in winter and the burning of shekotis for warmth adding to it, the Pune Air Action Hub has written to the PMC urging it to issue directions to societies and property owners who employ night staff. These shekotis sometimes burn for the entire night, and it is known that air pollutants are trapped close to the ground level when temperatures decrease. Burning in the night or early morning only adds to this already concentrated air pollution when most people go for morning walks, children go to schools and colleges and adults to work.

The letter mentions the need for a circular from PMC to property owners and societies specifying the following;

1. Provision of an enclosed cabin for night staff/ security guards.

2. Provision of appropriate clothing for their security guards for protection against cold like sweaters, mufflers, caps, socks, blankets/shawls etc

3. Provision of electric heaters

Recently, in Delhi, it has been made mandatory to provide electric heaters to construction workers to avoid waste burning for heat . A recommendation for Resident Welfare Associations to provide such heaters was already made by the Delhi government last year.

In it's letter the Hub also stressed that, if the security guards are found to be burning waste for warmth, the societies/property owners ought to be fined for the offence of open waste burning as per the Maharashtra State Solid Waste Management Bye Laws, July 2019.

The letter suggested that there is a need to educate the security guards on the health impact of exposing themselves to smoke from burning fire, when the air quality is already so bad.

Although a news article recently mentioned the issue of such a notice by PMC, societies do not confirm having received any such official communication.

“Our Society in Viman Nagar has not received any communication so far. Further our security personnel have been provided with warm clothing / blankets and a cubby hole to protect from cold winds. We have no idea whether any squad is moving around to control these fires, they are lit late in the night and you can find the charred remains in the morning.” - Raja Subramani, Lunkad Heritage, Viman Nagar.

“Our Society in ICS Colony, Bhosalenagar has not received any communication from PMC.

Air pollution is aggravated by garbage burning where PMC needs to pay attention.” - Anuradha Lokapur , Shefali Society, Bhosalenagar.