The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is in the process of finding alternative solutions for disposing the City’s waste, post the State government’s direction to clear the garbage mess within four months’ time.
According to Palike Commissioner M Laxminarayana, the civic agency is in the process of identifying lands and has shortlisted few places where waste processing plants would be set up, in the City.
He told Deccan Herald: "The High Court has directed us to start a waste processing plant at each of the 28 assembly consistencies. We need at least 5-10 acres of land to set up a plant. Around seven to eight places have been shortlisted. Under the first phase, we are considering setting up plants at places such as Dasarahalli, Bommanahalli and surrounding areas as they are not nestled in the centre of the city.”
According to Palike sources, presently, Dry Waste Collection Centres (DWCCs) are set up at 146 wards out of which 120 are operating. “DWCCs will be extended to all the 198 wards in the coming days and steps will be taken to make all of them functional,” said an official.
Solid Waste Management (SWM) Expert Committee member, N S Ramakanth expressed doubts over the Palike's assurances of finding alternate sites for disposing of the garbage. He said, “It will take a minimum of one year and even more for acquiring the land. Similarly, setting up waste processing units is also a time consuming affair unless Palike executes the work on a fast track basis and take help fromthe State government.”
Meanwhile, post the Mandur garbage crisis, the amount of waste entering the Terra Firma landfill in Doddaballapur has increased.
K G Nanjundappa, General Manager, Terra Firma said, “The City generates around 2,500 tonnes of waste every day. Earlier, we used to take 350 tonnes of waste but in the last two months, around 700 tonnes of waste is entering the landfill from Palike limits. About 180 trucks are entering Mandur landfill currently. The remaining waste is being dumped at Karnataka Compost Development Corporation (KCDC) at Bommanahalli and other landfill sites of Bangalore.”
Pourakarmikas’ shortage
Mayor B S Satyanarayana told Deccan Herald that the shortage of Pourakarmikas in the City was adding to the garbage disposal woes. “We had plans to hire 4,000 Pourakarmikas. It is said that the matter has been taken to the High Court by some people. If that is the case, then the City has to manage with the existing Pourakarmikas,” he added.
General Secretary, BBMP Pourakarmikas and Arogya Gangmen Association, Pothanna said that there were a total of 18,800 Pourakarmikas in the City, out of which around 3,800 were permanent while the rest were on contract basis.
“The Pourakarmikas are not equipped with proper trolleys, gloves, caps among others. Hence, sometimes they face hassles in collecting the waste. Every three months, they are supposed to be provided with new trolleys and other facilities,” he added.
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