8 garbage vehicles vandalised by miscreants

As many as eight compactors and garbage collection vehicles deployed by BBMP to clear the garbage mess were damaged in Hagadur ward near Whitefield on Saturday. The old compactors at the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) only dry waste collection centre in Hagadur ward that were in use for some years now were allegedly damaged by unidentified persons.

Residents near the collection centre woke up with a shock on Saturday at the sight of the damaged vehicles. The windshields were broken and batteries and other accessories stolen.

The resident welfare associations said the waste collection centre is located on land over which the government and SC/ST communities in the area are locked in a dispute.

“Members of the community frequently clash BBMP contractors and others here. They urged the BBMP to vacate part of the land, which they claim belongs to a leader of the community. But the Palike insists it is government land. This is the only centre in the ward for segregating dry and wet waste,” said a Whitefield Rising member. 

Some residents also attributed the incident to the nexus between BBMP staffers, contractors and corporators which is hindering effective waste segregation in the ward. “There is no co-operation between the Palike staffers and contractors. It is hard to say who is behind the incident,” said another Whitefield Rising member.

The residents lodged a complaint with the Whitefield police on Saturday morning. Sub-inspector Somashekar who took charge of the case said they suspect the hand of a few people behind the incident and are investigating. “The batteries of some vehicles have been stolen. They have broken the window panes of some vehicles,” he said. He refused to react to the allegations.

Ten new auto tippers were deployed for door-to-door waste collection in the ward. However, residents doubt if the tippers will be regular or if the staff are adequately trained in their work.