Shut down Mavallipura landfill, KSPCB tells Palike

Responding to pressure from residents of villages surrounding Mavallipura landfill, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has issued orders to close the dump yard.

Issuing orders on Wednesday, the KSPCB said that owing to non-compliance with the conditions stipulated, the BBMP has been asked to stop sending municipal solid waste (MSW) to Mavallipura landfill.

Moreover, the KSPCB has given three months time to Ramky Infrastructure Ltd to compost without posing any danger to public health and environment.

As an alternative to disposing garbage in Mavallipura, the KSPCB has directed the Palike to send the waste to Mandur landfill for its scientific disposal. The KSPCB has warned the Palike of penal action under the Environment (Protection)Act, 1986, if it fails to comply with the directions.

The KSPCB in its order justified the move stating that the BBMP and Ramky Infrastructure Ltd neglected several reminders of non-compliance issued by the Board, earlier. Moreover, the Mavallipura landfill was not upgraded, it added.

The KSPCB took both the BBMP and the landfill operator to task for not safeguarding the environment and for jeopardising public health in general.

Both the parties failed to apply for renewal of authorisation under the MSW rules, which expired on December 31, 2010.

“The KSPCB has given enough opportunities to both the BBMP and its operator to take suitable action, in spite of which there was no compliance. Further, both the parties are functioning without valid authorisation of the Board,” the order stated.