The much awaited launch of a waste disposal unit at Ajjangondanahalli which is part of the ‘Nirmala Nagara scheme’ has seen umpteen problems before its launch itself which has worried the intelligentsia in the district.
The launch of the unit is getting complicated day by day and people have been wondering whether the unit would start at all!
The establishment of the unit has been opposed by the farmers and environmentalists, which has made the issue more worse and complicated.
In a meeting held to discuss the establishment of unit on Saturday in the city, Karnataka Regional Farmers’ Association’s chief B Umesh vigorously opposed the establishment. He said that the farmers have been opposing the unit after acquiring pieces of land from them.
 Principal of Kalidasa College and Environmentalist C Yathiraju has questioned the transparency in following the scientific method in treating wastes.
Stating that, he was not opposing the development of the city, he stressed on the scientific methods to be followed while treating the wastes, and the government should not establish the unit upon farmers’ tombstones.
However, very less concerned officials were present for the meeting which was called by Karnataka Regional Farmers’ Association on Saturday to discuss the problems and advantages in starting the unit at Ajjagondanahalli.
An officer from the department of Air Pollution control and CMC environment engineer Poornima were the only two officials who were present at the meeting.
Many  members from City Municipal Council did not turn up, though it was held in the premises of City Municipal Council itself!
 Kote Nagabhushan and Saiyeed Mujeeb also expressed their dissatisfaction in discussing the issue in the absence of DC and CMC Commissioner. 
C Vishwanath, Kundaranahalli Ramesh and others expressed their opinions.
    Actually, Amalapur was selected for establishment of the unit, before selecting Ajjagondanahalli, till the farmers of the area protested in starting the unit.
But now the farmers of Ajjagondanahalli have been vigorously opposing its launch.
Transparency
One of the major reasons as to why the farmers have been opposing the establishment of unit is the fear that it might effect the underground water system and in turn their crops. They doubt the treating of wastes in a transparent and scientific manner.
According to Umesh, sewage might mix up with drinking water as the Hemavathi canal passes near by Ajjagondanahalli. Many experts also doubt the same.
He also alleges that the farmers’ lands have been acquired by the government by purchasing them at very low costs.
Yathiraju, an environmentalist, says that providing comforts to the farmers’ should be the main aim of the government and the government should not forcefully take lands from the farmers, which shows the government’s negligence towards the welfare of farmers. ‘Let the government launch the unit in its own land and not use farmers’ lands for the purpose’, he says.
However, the farmers expect the DC and CMC Commissioner Abdul Khayyum to discuss and try to resolve their problems.
In fact, the major responsibility lies with the DC and CMC Commissioner, who have to discuss and clear the doubts of farmers.