Garbage piles in Dasarahalli a potential health risk

For residents of Dasarahalli in northern Bengaluru, garbage remains a serious problem.

Piles of solid waste lying around at every corner makes the place look dirtier, complain residents.

An industrial suburb comprising the Peenya Industrial Estate –said to be Asia’s largest- Dasarahalli also has small clusters of residential areas.

Garbage black spots in the area have no regular cleaning, making parks, graveyards and playgrounds in places like Bagalagunte, MEI Layout, MHR layout and Mallasandra appear a veritable waste dumps.

Residents say the garbage includes industrial plastic, rubber and other inorganic substances which are burnt across various black spots.

Mahadevappa, a senior citizen who lives in Chokkasandra, said asthma and other respiratory ailments–caused by burning of plastic- are becoming common in the area. “Some of them burn the garbage early in the morning and it’s too uncomfortable to smoke until afternoon,” he said.

Those living in AGB Layout and Chikkabanavara are alarmed by the rise in pig population, a potential health hazard. “Several of these street pigs are found in garbage black spots. We’ve made several complaints to the BBMP but no use,” said Satyanarayana, a resident of AGB Layout.

Govindaraju, a member of MHR Layout residents welfare association said: “The door-to-door waste collection is not happening regularly. The autos collecting garbage are unseen most of the times. Students, who live in larger numbers here, throw the waste on the streets that increases the street dog population.”

A BBMP official said the civic body is regularly clearing the waste from the black spots. “We’ve also installed CCTV cameras to prevent illegal dumping of waste,” he added.

People coming to eat in Indira Canteen at Mallasandra have to put up with the foul odor drifting in from the garbage black spot just 10 metres away. “It’s horrible to have breakfast at this canteen,” said Prasanna, an auto driver. “Auto tippers come here in the morning to dump the garbage that only makes it worse.”