Bengaluru trash to be dumped 100 km away in Kolar, Tumakuru dists

The state government is in the process of acquiring 1,000 acres of land at Madhugiri in Tumakuru and near Kolar Gold Fields in Kolar district to dispose of waste generated in Bengaluru.

The two places, which are around 100 km from Bengaluru, will be known as Environment Facility Cities, which will be hubs for generating electricity, biogas and compost from garbage. The city waste will be transported to these two places by train.

Speaking to DH after taking charge as the chairman of Karnataka Compost Development Corporation (KCDC), Kenchegowda said KCDC now has only one unit at Kudlu.

“Identification of the two locations is almost done. Each of these places will have 1,000 acres of land, of which 25 acres will be utilised for setting up the processing units. We will invite companies which can produce electricity, biogas and compost from the waste coming from Bengaluru to these two units,” said Kenchegowda. He stressed upon the need to have facilities away from Bengaluru because existing units within the city are facing opposition from the public due to which almost all of them have been closed, except the KCDC unit.

Kenchegowda pointed out that the BBMP spent Rs 400 crore on setting up seven plants in the city in the past two years though the budget for solid waste management is Rs 500 crore a year. He said the state government has not yet earmarked any budget for this corporation, which was established in 1975. In the next budget, there will be budgetary allocation for KCDC, he said.

When contacted, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) chairperson Lakshman said the Cabinet has tentatively approved setting up of Environment Facility Cities at Madhugiri and KGF.

“These will be scientific waste processing units where emphasis will be on generating electricity from garbage,” he said.