Separate waste tenders opposed

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) council meeting on Thursday witnessed opposition from the corporators over separate waste tenders.

Corporators across parties argued separate tenders will lead to complications. “If tenders are handed over only for wet waste then who will collect dry and bulk waste? There will be accountability if a single contractor handles all,” corporators argued.

BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad said: “Collection of wet, dry and bulk waste will work against Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules. Supreme Court has directed rag pickers be compulsorily included in dry waste collection. So, tender to a single bidder for all types of waste isn’t possible.”

Prasad clarified that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has appointed former justice Subhash Adi as the chairman of the State Level Committee for the implementation of SWM Rules 2016.

“If NGT orders and rules aren’t followed, BBMP will pay a heavy fine. There are instructions that no dry waste be collected and it should be handled by rag pickers and NGOs. Identity cards have been issued for about 7,500 rag pickers. They are already working in 33 wards. Where will they go? Officials have spent years to prepare Ward Micro Plan for streamlining the number of auto tippers and pourakarmikas to be deployed. Suppose the BBMP wants to collect waste from bulk generators it will cost additional funds of hundreds of crores,” he said.

Mayor Gangambike, who intervened in the matter, said the committee formed within the BBMP will hold a meeting soon. “The decision will be sent to the deputy Chief Minister for approval,” she said.

On the day of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s oath taking, BJP corporators expressed happiness on the party’s victory, wearing Modi masks.

Councillors from all the parties wished elected MPs from all four constituencies.

Heated arguments

Both BJP and Congress corporators had heated arguments after a Congress corporator asked a BJP corporator to call PM Modi to clean the waste in his ward.

Balakrishna of Yelachenahalli was explaining waste collection challenges displaying photographs.

Yeshwanthapura ward corporator G K Venkatesh asked Balakrishna to explain this to the PM, so that he can ensure cleanliness.