BBMP to prosecute landowner for allowing waste dumping

The BBMP is likely to file a criminal case against a private landowner, who has allowed dumping of garbage that has reached dangerous heights at Kundalahalli landfill, close to the lake.

DH had reported on January 19 that garbage and construction debris at around 20-acre landfill, near the Kundalahalli Lake, where the civic body solid waste management contractors and rag pickers dump and segregate waste, have become a headache for the residents living in the vicinity.

Civic authorities and volunteers from Kundalahalli Pathway conducted spot inspection a few days ago and decided on certain tasks.

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials said they would file a “criminal case” against the landowner. “We have sent a file to revenue section to identify and trace the landowner, who has allowed the dumping of garbage. We will decide about the action to be taken further with respect to the landowner,” said a BBMP official, who conducted spot inspection.

A pathway leading to Divyashree Tech Park is set to be cleaned and barricaded on both the sides, as a temporary solution. The pathway, which is at the border of the landfill, has turned a bugbear to the officegoers as the garbage is also dumped there.

The volunteer group has also sent an application for the appointment of four marshals to guard the lake and prevent further dumping of waste.

WEPPIA, a private company, will come up with a garbage collection plan for the EPIP zone of Brookfield in Kundalahalli, in collaboration with the BBMP. The firm may also procure 100 bins to be given away to the roadside vendors. The company workers along with BBMP and other volunteers are also planning an awareness drive on garbage segregation soon.

Smoke from the landfill

Over the past few days, consistent smoke could be noticed from the landfill. The residents have complained about it to the BBMP, which is yet to take an action.

“The lake, which is close to the landfill, is threatened by fire every day. The fire will be so intense that we had even called fire engines twice. But they could do nothing as the landfill is a big area for them to control the blaze. The fire can be seen even today,” said Gilbert Millicent Nathan from Huawei Technologies India Private Ltd and a resident.