A civic initiative to recycle flower waste from temples into incense sticks and other products has encountered strong opposition in Thaltej, where residents have forced a temporary halt to the construction of a waste-processing plant on a public plot near Avalon Hotel.
Project Details and Purpose
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's (AMC) solid waste management department planned the facility to process approximately one metric tonne of religious waste generated daily from temples and shrines across the city's western areas. The project aimed to convert discarded flowers and offerings into incense sticks and other reusable products as part of a sustainable waste management program.
Residents' Allegations
According to local residents, workers began preparing the site on Final Plot No. 173 of TP Scheme No. 37 in Thaltej ward when several trees on the plot were allegedly cut down. Residents claim that no prior permission or public consultation was conducted before the work commenced. The issue escalated into a public protest, with residents approaching BJP corporators and AMC officials demanding immediate intervention.
Current Status
Following the complaints, civic authorities have temporarily stopped work at the site. The AMC had planned two such facilities—one each in the eastern and western parts of the city—to scientifically process religious waste. A tender for handling temple waste from western Ahmedabad had already been issued, and a private company was assigned to construct and operate the Thaltej unit.
Demands and Outlook
With local opposition intensifying, residents are now demanding that the project be scrapped entirely and shifted away from residential zones. The standoff highlights the challenges of implementing waste management initiatives in densely populated urban areas.
