'Don't use Gudibande sites to dump Bangalore garbage'
CPM, Raitha Sangha criticise BBMP choice of landfill sites
Members of the CPM objected to the idea of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to use sites in the taluk as dumping grounds for the waste from Bangalore.
Jayarama Reddy, taluk secretary of the CPM, who addressed a press conference at the party office in town on Wednesday, said disposal of waste generated in Bangalore was being given a lot of importance recently.
“The Palike has brought out a new plan to dispose the waste on sites outside the City. It has identified about 200 acres of land in villages including Dinnahalli, Kadirashettyhalli, Katenahalli and Doddanancharlu. Private agencies have also agreed to purchase the land from farmers,” said Reddy, criticising the idea of offering money to poor farmers in exchange for their agricultural land which will only become dumping yards.
“The residents of the sites in the taluk will obviously be in danger of becoming exposed to unhealthy conditions. Chances of diseases because of environment pollution spreading here too will only increase,” said Reddy.
“We will not let the BBMP convert sites in the taluk into dumping yards,” he added, firmly.
‘Real estate mafia’
Narayana Reddy, Gudibande Taluk Panchayat vice-president and CPM local leader, concurred with Jayarama Reddy’s opinion that the farmers were fooled by real estate agents. “The step is being taken only with vested interest,” he said.
“The taluk administration should immediately take measures to protect public interest and prevent use of land in the taluk to dump waste from Bangalore,” he added.
H P Lakshminarayana, secretary of the Zilla Prantha Raitha Sangha, said the taluk was already facing several problems including lack of basic amenities. “Also, the sites identified to dump the waste from Bangalore are barely two km away from Chitravathi.
There is every chance of the garbage flowing down into the waters of the river during rain. Consumption of such polluted water will further the health hazards of the residents of the taluk,” he explained.
Lakshminarayana condemned the selection of landfill sites in the region. He also called upon the officials concerned to oppose the plan of the Palike.
Taluk Panchayat member Rathnamma, Gram Panchayat member Venkatesh, Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha taluk president Srinivas, vice-president Ashok, DYFI member Murali and others were present at the press conference.
A senior government official recently submitted five landfill sites near Bangalore, which included about 326 acres in Gudibande taluk, as ordered by the Karnataka High Court.
