Bellahalli withdraws stir over garbage-dumping

People living near the Bellahalli landfill withdrew their protest against the BBMP on Friday after officials assured to develop the locality.

Mayor Gangambike Mallikarjun, BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad, Joint Commissioner for Health and Solid Waste Management Sarfaraz Khan and Yelahanka Joint Commissioner Nagaraj S met the villagers after they stalled the dumping of waste in the vicinity.

The movement of trucks and lorries carrying garbage, stopped by the villagers since Tuesday, resumed on Friday evening after BBMP officials promised that their demands will be met.

Gangambike told DH that the villagers wanted the locality to be developed for many years and that she has asked the BBMP Commissioner to sanction the funds immediately.

“I wrote to the commissioner to sanction Rs 70 crore for the developmental works at Bellahalli. This amount will be taken from the solid waste management funds. The commissioner agreed and has directed the officials to call for the job code,” said Gangambike.

Explaining the demands made by the villagers, Khan said, “The villagers are complaining that their locality lacks basic infrastructure,
including access to clean drinking water, proper roads, construction of drains etc. With the Mayor urging to sanction the amount immediately, these works will be taken up at the earliest. They also complained that they are not getting water even if they dig up to 1,300-1,400 feet,” he added.

Though the villagers withdrew their protest, the city still stares at an impending crisis.

A senior BBMP official said they will run out of space in Bellahalli in two months. “For now, the mixed waste will continue to be sent to the Bellahalli quarry for another two months. However, there are three other proposals - Marenahalli, Ullahalli and Bagalur as alternative options.”

The official further said that from the segregated waste, the wet waste will be sent to the seven waste processing plants and the dry waste will be sent to the dry waste collection centres.

Khan also said that the area is infested with mosquitos and the civic body will try to resolve the problem.