JOIN USIt's full: Bellahalli Quarry to shut in 90 days
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike will close down the Bellahalli quarry in three months.
Making the announcement, Deputy Chief Minister and Bangalore Development Minister G Parameshwara said: "The quarry is filled to its capacity and will be shut in three months. We have thought of an alternative place to dump garbage near Terra Farm in Doddaballapur."
Parameshwara said Marenahalli, Bagalur and Ulahalli are also in consideration to dispose of the solid waste. "We are planning to use modernised machinery here so that the localities don't face issues like stench," he added.
BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad informed DH that the civic body has submitted details of the three places for the new quarry at the NGT meeting held recently.
"They (NGT) are quite satisfied with our plan. We are also monitoring these places through drones," Prasad said.
Parameshwara welcomed the high court's intervention in directing the BBMP to clear the black spots in the city. "The city has close to 1.3 crore people and generates 5,700 tonnes of garbage every day. It is a huge task for the civic body to collect and dispose of garbage on a daily basis," he added.
He said the government is considering both short- and long-term solutions for solid waste management. For now, the civic body has roped in NGOs, Residents' Welfare Associations (RWAs), besides engaging marshals, to clear the black spots, while it plans to set up a control room to monitor and resolve issues at the ward level.
The BBMP is also planning to deploy one assistant executive engineer and a senior health officer to each Assembly constituency to look after solid waste management. "So far, health officials were not looking after garbage-related issues and focused only on issuing trade licences. But now, we'll get additional hands," he added.