Moshi garbage depot collapse: PCMC begins probe, issues notices to officials and firm
Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Commissioner Vijay Suryavanshi on Sunday directed senior officials to issue notices to the civic environment department and Anthony Lara Renewable Energy Pvt Ltd following the partial collapse of the company's office building at the Moshi garbage depot. The incident, which occurred earlier this week, claimed nine lives.
Deputy Municipal Commissioner Anna Bodade confirmed the development, stating that the notices seek explanations regarding the responsibility for ensuring employee safety and the precautions taken while operating in the area. "If the replies are not satisfactory, the civic administration will then file an FIR against the concerned officials and the private firm," Bodade added.
However, the private company has denied receiving any notice. Nilesh Pawar, manager of Anthony Lara Renewable Energy Pvt Ltd, said, "I am not aware of any notice issued to the company. If any such notice is issued, our firm will reply to it." Similarly, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) City Engineer Sanjay Kulkarni, who heads the civic environment department, stated he had not received any notice.
The collapse has drawn sharp criticism from citizens, activists, and political parties, who allege negligence by both the civic administration and the private firm. Family members of the deceased have echoed these allegations. Several political parties, including the Sunetra Pawar-led NCP, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, Congress, Shiv Sena, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Aam Aadmi Party, have demanded that culpable homicide cases be registered against civic officials.
The parties argue that the accumulation of "legacy waste" at the Moshi garbage depot created a massive garbage mound. They contend that if the PCMC had expedited the clearing of the sanitary landfill site, the incident could have been avoided. Activists Manav Kamble and Maruti Bhapkar, who camped at the site for two days, alleged gross negligence by both the PCMC and the private contractor. "How can they construct a building in such close proximity to a mound of garbage? No sensible person would do this. Only a careless civic body like the PCMC would resort to such steps," Kamble said, demanding an FIR against the concerned officials and the private company.
On the government's part, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar visited the site on Saturday and assured that those responsible would face action. "The government will investigate the matter and will take action against those responsible," she said.
