Garbage not cleared for 4 days

Garbage heaps in most parts of the City remain uncleared for the fourth consecutive day due to the closure of Terra Firma landfill on Doddaballapur Road.

Vehement protests by the local villagers have resulted in the closure of the landfill, leaving many areas in the City reeking and posing health hazards. People were seen dumping waste in public places and in storm water drains while many garbage-laden trucks were stranded on the way to the landfills.

 Mayor D Venkatesh Murthy called a meeting at the Vyalikaval BBMP Office to discuss a practical method for garbage disposal.

According to sources, engineers have encouraged the ‘Waste to Energy Project’, which is still awaiting government approval. The City generates at least 5,000 tonnes of garbage and an average of 800 tonnes per day were sent to Terra Firma after the closure of Mavallipura landfill. 

With Terra Firma also shutting down, the Palike has been sending garbage to two landfills at Cheemasandra near Rajarajeshwari Nagar and Mandur near Hoskote.
BBMP Commissioner M K Shankarlinge Gowda said, “The way protests are taking place, we may have to stop clearing garbage from the City.”

As a short-term measure, the BBMP has covered garbage with tarpaulin at places outside the City and has sprinkled bleaching powder on the heaps to prevent diseases. KSPCB Chairman A S Sadashivaiah visited Mandur landfill on Tuesday following complaints from villagers about pollution in the area. He also warned the Palike that it would be reprimanded if partical methods of garbage disposal are not adopted.

Cess to be hiked

The BBMP is considering hiking  the garbage cess to almost double as it may have to transport waste to distant places on the outskirts of the City. The hike in cess was planned after the closure of the Terra Firma landfill.