JOIN USDelivering a lecture on 'Ground water management in Bangalore Metropolitan region' at the Geological Society of India here on Wednesday, Dr Farooqui said municipal waste disposal and management is “not at all” organised in the City.
"BBMP is supposed to collect solid waste from houses in small bins and then transfer it to community bins. The waste is subsequently to be carried to the disposal site. Random dumping all around the metropolis is rampant, causing environmental pollution of land, water, and air from garbage dumps that are set afire,” he said.
Due to the combined effect of large number and non-scientific nature of transit collection sites, partial collection, faulty transportation and delayed disposal of municipal waste, ground water is getting polluted, Dr Farooqui warned.
Garbage left on the ground surface produces leachate, a harmful liquid which enters into the ground water table.
Dr Farooqui said 40 percent of BWSSB's underground sewerage pipes leaked and such dilapidated pipelines added to the groundwater contamination.
Leaking sewer pipes should be replaced and quality of water from borewells should be checked periodically for chemical and bacteriological parameters, he added.
Building bye-laws should be suitably modified to include roof top rainwater harvesting in the house plan and it should be made mandatory to use tertiary treated water for non-potable purposes. Attempts should be made to stop wells from being used as dust bins to control pollution.
Certain lakes should be dedicated solely for rainwater harvesting and to recharge ground water.