Palike plans designated spots to dump waste

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is all set to introduce ‘designated spots’ to dump garbage across the city.

This U-turn comes close to two decades after the state government and the civic body removed such designated spots, way back in
2000, and introduced the door-to-door garbage collection system.

To curb littering and prevent black spots, the civic body plans to set up transfer stations across 100 wards. In all 50 stations will be set up with one station for every two wards, where containers will be placed to dump the waste.

“We have processed tenders to set up transfer stations,” said BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad.

“The streets get dirty just an hour after the sanitation workers clean it. Either the residents leave homes too early, or they will not be awake when the civic workers come to collect the garbage. Hence, they end up throwing the waste after dinner on the streets. So if there is a designated spot, people can dump the garbage in that place,” the commissioner said.

“Once they dump the garbage into the compact container, it will compress and reduce the waste by half, as 50% of wet waste consist of moisture. The hook loader will then carry the container to the final destination,” he explained.

The Palike also intends to strengthen the dry waste collection.

“We will strengthen the self-help groups, who have extended their help in collecting the dry waste. We will soon send a proposal to the government,” Prasad said.

Meanwhile, the residents feel that the civic body may find it difficult to identify spots to place the containers.

Anitha R K, a resident of Hombegowda Nagar, asked: “We all know how the civic body struggles to find places to set up anything new in the city. Have they identified spots or is it going to be another battle before agreeing on places, because these are the ones that will stink and smell? So, nobody would agree
to have it next to their homes.”