<p>A mountain of garbage greets the visitors to the serene village Mavallipura on the outskirts of the city near Yelahanka.<br /><br />Everyday nearly 700 tonnes of garbage from across Bangalore is dumped there. The dump yard is managed by a Hyderabad-based firm called Ramky Environmental Engineers who produce fertiliser from at least 30 to 35 per cent of the garbage while the rest goes to the landfill.<br /><br />Local residents had been complaining that the garbage disposal unit is affecting their health besides posing environmental hazards.<br /><br />Dalit Sangharsh Samithi (DSS) and Environment Support Group (ESG) members recently called on BBMP commissioner Siddaiah and appealed him to visit the village. Siddaiah on Saturday, visited the place and heard people's complaints.<br /><br />The villagers complained that many of them have contracted skin ailments, fever and gastro-intestinal disorders. They told Siddaiah that mosquitoes and flies compel them to use mosquito nets even during the day while stray dog menace had increased. <br /><br />The villagers showed lakes, wells, borewells and ponds to Siddaiah, which are rendered toxic. The ESG and DSS members drew Siddaiah's attention to the increasing number of scavenging birds, which offer a direct threat to movements of defence aircraft of the Yelahanka Air Force base, which is merely five km away from the dumping yard.<br /><br />Siddaiah directed his subordinates to hold free health check-up camps every month in the villages around Mavallipura. <br /><br />He assured villagers that pesticides would be sprayed in the villages to control the mosquito and fly menace. He told the villagers that for the next three days quality of water in lakes, wells and borewells will be tested. He also promised villagers that he would convey the problems of loss of crop due to the garbage dumping yard to the government. <br /><br />He assured villagers that he would make a sincere effort to supply Cauvery water in the village. He told the ESG and DSS activists that the BBMP officials would meet the Ramky officials and ensure that contractual obligations are met.</p>
<p>A mountain of garbage greets the visitors to the serene village Mavallipura on the outskirts of the city near Yelahanka.<br /><br />Everyday nearly 700 tonnes of garbage from across Bangalore is dumped there. The dump yard is managed by a Hyderabad-based firm called Ramky Environmental Engineers who produce fertiliser from at least 30 to 35 per cent of the garbage while the rest goes to the landfill.<br /><br />Local residents had been complaining that the garbage disposal unit is affecting their health besides posing environmental hazards.<br /><br />Dalit Sangharsh Samithi (DSS) and Environment Support Group (ESG) members recently called on BBMP commissioner Siddaiah and appealed him to visit the village. Siddaiah on Saturday, visited the place and heard people's complaints.<br /><br />The villagers complained that many of them have contracted skin ailments, fever and gastro-intestinal disorders. They told Siddaiah that mosquitoes and flies compel them to use mosquito nets even during the day while stray dog menace had increased. <br /><br />The villagers showed lakes, wells, borewells and ponds to Siddaiah, which are rendered toxic. The ESG and DSS members drew Siddaiah's attention to the increasing number of scavenging birds, which offer a direct threat to movements of defence aircraft of the Yelahanka Air Force base, which is merely five km away from the dumping yard.<br /><br />Siddaiah directed his subordinates to hold free health check-up camps every month in the villages around Mavallipura. <br /><br />He assured villagers that pesticides would be sprayed in the villages to control the mosquito and fly menace. He told the villagers that for the next three days quality of water in lakes, wells and borewells will be tested. He also promised villagers that he would convey the problems of loss of crop due to the garbage dumping yard to the government. <br /><br />He assured villagers that he would make a sincere effort to supply Cauvery water in the village. He told the ESG and DSS activists that the BBMP officials would meet the Ramky officials and ensure that contractual obligations are met.</p>
