Pune, July 14 (IANS) Police have registered a case against the company operating the waste-to-energy project at Pune’s Moshi garbage depot after a massive garbage mound collapsed onto a nearby building, claiming the lives of nine people and leaving several others injured, officials said.

The case has been registered at the MIDC Bhosari Police Station against the Project Head and the Safety Officer of Antony Lara Renewable Energy Pvt. Ltd. in connection with the fatal incident that occurred at the garbage depot complex in Moshi.

According to officials, the Pune Municipal Corporation had awarded Antony Lara Renewable Energy Pvt. Ltd. the contract for processing the city’s municipal waste and managing operations at the site.

As part of its responsibilities under the contract, the company was allegedly required to implement all necessary safety measures to ensure the stability and security of the Sanitary Landfill (SLF) and prevent any potential hazards arising from waste accumulation.

Officials said the company was also responsible for ensuring the safety of workers deployed at the site and for protecting the Sanitary Landfill from possible damage during the monsoon season by putting in place adequate precautionary measures.

According to the complaint, Project Head Ashokkumar Siyaram Sharan Gupta (59) and Safety Officer Vijay Ramrao Sapkal (38) were aware that the absence of proper safety arrangements could result in loss of life and damage to property.

However, it has been alleged that they failed to implement adequate safety measures despite being aware of the potential risks.

As a result, on July 8 at around 1:30 p.m., a portion of the garbage mound at the depot allegedly collapsed onto an adjacent building and a nearby road. The incident claimed the lives of nine people, while 12 others sustained injuries in the collapse.

Following the incident, the Municipal Corporation lodged a complaint, based on which the police registered a case against the two accused under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Sections 104, 125(a), 125(b) and 3(5).

Officials said the investigation is currently underway to determine whether negligence in implementing mandatory safety measures contributed to the deadly collapse.

–IANS

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