Residents protest as BBMP skips KCDC grievance meet

Members of Kudlu Gate, Haralur, Haralukunte, Somasundarapalya and Parangipalya (KHHSP) — a federation of residents’ welfare associations, held a snap protest on Monday as BBMP backed out of a grievance meeting regarding a waste processing plant in their area.

Members of the federation and local residents’ welfare associations affected by the Karnataka Compost Development Corporation (KCDC) plant were earlier assured by the BBMP of a grievance meeting.

The residents were planning to raise problems like stink, excessive dumping of garbage, air pollution and other issues caused by the plant. With the Palike backing out at the last minute, residents formed a human chain and held a  peaceful protest inside the KCDC plant at Somasundarapalya.

A meeting was scheduled to be held last Friday but it was postponed as officials were not available. “This is the third time the Palike has let us down. So far, no grievance meetings have taken place. There were one or two informal meetings with the then BBMP Special Commissioner for Solid Waste Management (SWM) Subodh Yadav in 2016,” said Sankar Sharma, one of the affected residents.

Locals said the BBMP skipped the meeting fearing backlash from angry citizens over the poorly maintained plant and unscientific dumping of waste. 

KHHSP member Kamesh Rastogi said he and other working professionals had taken leave from work just to attend the meeting. "It is highly unprofessional of the Palike to cancel the meeting at the last moment," he added. 

BBMP Joint Commissioner Veerabhadra Swamy for Bommanahalli zone cited the BBMP council meeting for being absent from the meeting. “All the health officials were busy at the meeting on Monday and hence could not attend it,” he said.

The residents plan to organise ‘Blood to Breathe’ campaign on Sunday near the KCDC plant, where a blood donation camp will be held. They said the campaign is being organised to symbolise the pain of the locals staying close to plant.