Parle’s problems with garbage collection

Kachra- Kundi

The (very) old method of garbage disposal in Vile Parle East was through ‘kachra-kundi’ system. In this Parlekars would dump all their waste in a corner of their property. The dump was accessible to the outside through a small window in the compound wall and was surrounded by a short wall forming ‘kachra-kundi’. The garbage collector would empty this dump. Houses never had a dust-bin, as everything was periodically carried to the dump.  This system was okay when each property had few people and garbage generated was not much. But in the last several years this system has been stopped in favour of door-to-door collection of garbage. Kachra-kundis are still seen in some areas; I am not sure municipality has allowed it continued use.  (Need to check this)

Opening of kachra kundi

Now Parlekars put out their unsegregated garbage outside the door, from where it is collected by building cleaning staff. They convey it to society gates and the MCGM- appointed dumper collects the waste. I think all this waste goes to the landfill somewhere. (need to check all this). It is possible for some Parlekars to believe that the problem of garbage ends here. But that is not so.

 Firstly, many Parlekars are unable to get their garbage together before the cleaning staff comes to the door. On Sundays particularly- Parlekars wake up late by which time the collector is gone- and as it is ‘weekly cleaning day’ for many- they put out their garbage later. Some are brazen enough to fling it outside the window. I have been hit by one such projectile emerging from 2^nd floor of Dhotre-niwas on Tilak Mandir Road about 7 years ago. And one more emerging from a Bungalow on Ram Mandir Road, which is now re developed to form the ‘Sapphire’ building. So some Parlekars cannot seem to decide how to deal with their garbage after the cleaning staff and dumper have gone.

The opposite problem happens with Lokmanya Seva Sangh. Their cleaning is done much before the dumper arrives- so their staff leave all garbage bins, full to the brim, on the street behind their property. By the time the dumper arrives all manner of crows, insects, dogs, cats, rats and rag-pickers have gone through the garbage and spread it everywhere- A huge nuisance for neighbours and garbage collecting staff.

Bins on Tilak Mandir Road

Most streets in Parle East are quite narrow.  Many large cars are parked on the roads. I see that very large dumpers are sent for waste collection (Need to check why, smaller ones are available).  To avoid the dumper from scratching the cars, they are parked astride the already narrow footpaths. So now there is no place for the pedestrians to walk, particularly when the streets are full of traffic. And dumpers on the road cause traffic jams. They also drop garbage on the road while they move. Dumpers are also reported to be involved in major accidents- though nothing has yet been reported from Parle. Dumpers going around the serene streets of Parle cause air pollution due to the noise and smoke.

Cars on footpath

Garbage fallen off dumper

Traffic jam due to dumper 

Traffic jam due to dumper 1

So is it really that Parlekars problem with garbage has been solved with door-to-door collection and landfill tipping? Is it not important that garbage is still lying around, flung out of windows, encouraging vermin? And is it okay to allow a large dumper to occupy the street for a good part of everyday? Well, well……….

WHY PARLEKARS CUT TREES?

Nowadays people are not very clear if the trees near their houses really give them anything. More specifically each of us wants to know if 'this particular tree' gives 'me' something that 'I cannot buy'. Therefore now in Parle trees are being cut for following reasons:

1. Crows or owls or bats sit on trees and make a noise. Besides it unlucky to see them.

2. Dust from road settles on the leaves and then blows into the house

3. Trees feed the 'male' mosquito. And female mosquitoes bite humans. So to reduce mosquito menace male mosquitoes should be removed

4. Leaf litter makes our compound look ugly

5. Fallen fruit attract ants which get into my Merc/ Toyota/ Honda

6. My personal balcony garden does not get sunlight

7. My professional board or shop name plate gets obscured

8. A twig or fruit or bird shit may fall on me or my car

9. Someone slipped on fallen fruit and had fracture.

10. I cannot see my child's school van from my window

11. Yes- many trees are also cut for development- such as building new structures.

But more trees are cut down bu ordinary common Parlekars labouring under the belief that trees are troubling them in some way

WHAT HAS NATURE EVER DONE FOR US?

Title- WHAT HAS NATURE EVER DONE FOR US?

            Does Money Really Grow on Trees

Author- TONY JUNIPER

Type- Non fiction

Pages- 336

“Why should we preserve nature?” is a question every person needs to be clear about. Some people are much concerned about the financial output from everything. They cannot somehow see the sense in keeping forests (or rivers or streams and such other natural ecosystems) as they are- they would rather cut them and sell the land, wood and species for hard cash. This book provides an argument for not doing so. Good part is: the book is a recent publication and we do not have to suffer outdated statistics.

Through discussion of several examples, the author has explained ‘ecological services’ provided and their economic value. So it will make sound sense for someone to own a forest, but keep it as it is. This is not just for the flora and fauna on that land, it can deliver real financial benefit to the owner. So this is a very simple book on environmental economics.

It is a very good book for everyone interested in the subject. It is written in simple language and has provided examples from all over the world. So everybody can relate to the discussion. The book is of optimum length to be able to deliver understanding of the topic without stretching the discussion to boredom.

I am looking forward to a book explaining the benefit of maintaining urban ecology. If there is already such a book, I want to know about it. 

Do you want to plant a tree?

Last week I visited the garden Department of K East ward, MCGM, Gundavli (Andheri East) to make some enquiries. The garden Department is in charge of all tress and plants and open spaces and gardens in a particular ward.

I was accorded a very cordial Welcome and given all information patiently. Our officer now visits all gardens on a weekly basis- that sounds great. He is in his first year of service- so a big thumbs up to the young officer and hopes that he will not 'grow out of his enthusiasm' like many others do.

So- if you want to plant a tree, you only need to inform this officer- the MCGM will provide the sapling, will help to dig a trench to plant it. If tree is on private property, the owner has to take care of the tree. All public areas are the wards of MCGM. They water the plants and keep a watch over them, anyone troubling the plants is penalised. The saplings are sturdy and healthy 15 ft plants- so their survival is not so difficult. The best news- all the trees are native species- no exotic species are promoted. This last one made me happy. As planting native trees will ensure their survival and the survival of birds, insects and other local fauna- so our environment can really be protected.

So what are we waiting for. Do visit the garden department as soon as possible and help to plant a tree. Make our Parle East, lovely and green- one tree at a time.

MIGRANT IN PARLE

Most people in Parle know him as 'Taxi Bird' because of the bright yellow and black colours.

The Golden Oriole is an annual visitor and arrives every Winter to Vile Parle East between November and December. The male is very bright coloured and calls out loudly in a somewhat 'Laadwal' or nasal tone. His call is heard mostly in the mornings- upon which one can get up and spot him on some nearby tree. The bird is impossible to miss- because of thebright colours as well as that it does not move so often. The female bird is somewhat dull and better camouflaged; more difficult to spot.

Male bird- from flickriver.com

Female bird from Wikimedia

This beautiful bird flies back to the North in Spring or early Summer. Its diet consists of different small fruits of the fig, champa, etc and also small insects.

Please do enjoy this beautiful sight from your balconies and windows!

SWaCCH Coop Visit

This morning I was with Surekha Tai and her colleagues in University of Pune. Surekha Tai is an active member of Pune-based SWaCCH Cooperative which describes itself as 'a cooperative of self employed women'. And the job they do is to manage the waste in several areas of Pune. First the ladies assembled and registered their attendance- after a small breakfast and keeping their handbags safely in office they set out for the 'shed'. The shed is a grilled structure within University where their brooms, buckets, baskets, sacks, etc are stored and where they separate wet and dry waste after collection. Surekha tai suggested that if such a place is not available then solution is to collect  segregated waste separately.  So we set out with the waste collection cart. This work occurs from 8.30 am to almost 12 noon.

Waste collection Cart

The waste is then segregated all afternoon into- wet and dry waste. Wet waste is given to the vermicomposting unit. Dry waste is stored in the shed till sufficient quantity is accumulated and then sold off to 'raddiwala' for recycling.

I visisted the vermicompost facility near the storage shed. On one side was a series of sloping terrace-like structures. Wet waste is first spread on it in a layer about 4-5 inches thick and sprayed with mixtures which help to deodorise and also start the decomposition process. Vermiculture is also added to give it earthworms. Everyday the wet waste is turned to aerate it thoroughly. The layer is prone to stink if aeration is not done for a day- may happen on Monday mornings if Sunday is a holiday. But as this facility was in an open area with plenty of breeze, not much foul smell was evident. As the waste matures, it becomes uniformly dark coloured, odourless and reduces to almost half its original volume. Then this 'prepared' waste is transferred to large metal vats. These vats have holes on their sides and do not have lids. The terraces and vats are placed in shade.

Earthworm vats

Earthworms are added. This mixture is turned regularly for aeration and in dry weather sprayed with water for moisture. Earthworms need cool, moisture and dark homes. Earthworms chomp through the waste, which is excreted as 'vermicompost'. After about 15 days, the ready compost is seived to provide uniform textured output. The larger bits are put back into the vats- to provide culture for a new batch of wet waste.

Sieving the vermicompost

The ready vermicompost is supplied to gardens in University campus. The beauty of these gardens is legendary. It provides happiness to thousands of employees of University, morning and evening 'walkers' as well as the large number of visitors who just come to see the gardens. I remember my father waking me up on winter mornings and taking me to see the flowers in full bloom.

This system is absolutely marvellous!

WATERMELONS- DELINGPOLE

Description- Non fiction book by James Delingpole
                     Biteback publishing
                     2012
                     300 pages including index, Eleven chapters


It was quite an experience reading this book immediately after 'studying' the thick Earth in balance by Al Gore. In a nutshell- my head was spinning for two days from the severe thought churning I got.

Delingpole has set out an argument for the 'Anthropogenic (human caused) Global Warming' being a huge scam. But his writing is not 'soft'- it is relentlessly critical, scathing and occasionally frankly abusive. So much for 'editing' and at one place he calls himself 'nice person'.

But he has a point- in favour of critical thinking and his arguments sound plausible. At least it has put me on the guard about a few things- not assuming things and not advising others. Yes, I have been waiting for refugees from Maldives (India is the closest country)- since I was in school and it has not yet happened. But I was not completely convinced of his arguments- because I have personally experienced the change in climate in Pune- Mumbai, India where I have lived (almost) my whole life. Warming may be good for England- but in India we rather not have more heat!

It is all okay to oppose the concept and movement against global warming but being in the rare minority with a contrary view,  Delingpole now has the responsibility to write an appendix- about what part of the pro-environment movement he is not against.  There is no denying that we are in-charge of this planet, there MUST be SOMETHING we must in the form of 'maintainence'. At least something about landfills, effluents, etc? Otherwise his will be a piece in favour of continuing the poor civic and environment  habits prevailing in many countries (India-very bad).